First publication: The tensions between the most powerful women in the European Union regarding Israel

The conflict between the two most powerful leaders in the European Union, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Union Kaia Callas, has been gradually escalating in recent months around a series of issues and power struggles. Today (Monday) we are announcing for the first time that the tensions between the two leaderships also concern Israel, and have not escaped Jerusalem’s attention. “Callas is on very bad terms with von der Leyen, and is trying to push her to act against Israel,” an EU official familiar with the details tells N12.

In her role as Foreign Minister, Callas leads a rather hawkish line towards Israel – a more hostile line than that of von der Leyen and most of the EU countries. She spoke publicly about the attempt to reach agreements in the Union regarding measures against Israel and it was even reported that she compared Israel in closed rooms to the apartheid regime in South Africa – a comparison that led Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to announce the severance of relations with her earlier this month.

“Everyone knows that Kaya Callas has never had good relations with the Israeli government, everyone in Brussels knows that she is not really interested in dialogue as she says. She is trying to push the heads of state in her direction in order to achieve stronger measures against Israel,” says the European source.

An Israeli diplomat who spoke with N12 added that Kalas’ line is unusual in relation to Israel compared to the mainstream in the Union, and confirmed that the tensions between them were also felt in Jerusalem. “There are gaps and tensions between them,” the diplomat clarified, but emphasized that Israel is only one of a series of issues that divide them.

The Euronews website reported this month on the escalation of tensions between the Commission and Callas regarding the visit to Israel of the European Union Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dobrevka Suica. According to the report, Kalas’ entourage cast doubt on the timing of the visit in view of the severance of Israel’s relations with Kalas a few days earlier.

As the Israeli diplomat clarified, the struggle between Callas and von der Leyen Also includes Israel, but it concerns much deeper and more fundamental issues. Both women want to gain more power regarding the EU’s foreign policy, at each other’s expense.

It was reported in Euronews that von der Leyen made sure to convey messages to Callas that “she does not need her”, and that she is running a wider campaign to take over the foreign policy of the European Union. According to Callas’ critics in Europe, she is promoting her own personal agenda – thus elevating her role as a representative of the positions of the current governments of the EU countries.

“She has lost a lot of support. She is not good at building alliances within the European Union,” a senior diplomat told the European website. Others pointed to the limited power of Callas, who needs to muster a consensus or qualified majority for the Union’s major decisions, which puts her in a position doomed to failure.

At the same time, the Financial Times and other media reported that France, with the backing of Germany and other countries, circulated a document that proposes far-reaching changes in the EU’s foreign service. The document includes 3 different proposals – the first dilutes the power of Callas and transfers it to the European Commission headed by von der Leyen, the second dilutes the power of Callas and transfers more power directly to the member states of the Union, and the third expands the powers of Callas at the expense of the European Commission.

The revealed proposal further raised the tensions in the European Union and the rivalry between the two leaderships. This is against the background of widespread dissatisfaction in Europe with the current situation and the management of the Union’s foreign relations.

The spokesperson of the European Union responded: “It is very easy to make anonymous claims, especially when it is impossible to back them up with facts. The European Union’s policy towards Israel is determined collectively by the member states of the Union, which sometimes hold different positions from each other regarding Israel. No member or company of the European Commission has been more extensively involved with the Israeli government than the foreign minister, so the claim that they are not interested in dialogue is simply unfounded.”

“In June, the leaders of the European Union called on Israel to reverse the expansion of the settlements, which are illegal under international law. This is also the position that the Foreign Minister expressed publicly. The President of the European Commission and the Minister of Foreign Affairs have different obligations according to the Union’s charter. The High Representative represents the 27 member states of the European Union in foreign affairs.”