The choice of the former Prime Minister of Estonia Kaya Callas as the EU’s top diplomat was a relief for Israel, with Israeli newspapers further expressing their preference for Callas over her predecessor, Joseph Borel.

Daniel Swamenthal, director of the American Jewish Committee’s office in Brussels, said that for many Israelis Borel was unfairly criticizing their country. “The Israelis see him as anti-Israel and therefore unfit to mediate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” As stated in DW Schwamedal, “under the new leadership EU-Israel relations can only improve”.

Borrell criticized Israel’s military operations in Gaza, a stance that also caused a rift in the EU’s single position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Lukas Mandl, an Austrian MEP from the EPP, told DW that Borel was “one-sided and acting ideologically” towards Israel. Mandl hopes that Callas “will be better than her predecessor”.

Kalla’s balanced approach

Callas is expected to adopt a balanced approach and go along with the wishes of the member states, rather than seeking to chart the strategic course herself.

The EU supports a two-state solution, as envisaged in the Oslo Accords. In January, the Union’s foreign ministers unanimously confirmed this position.

“The good thing is that neither Estonia nor do Callas have a very strong view on non-Russian issues,” says Marylee Ariakas, an expert on Middle East issues. “And this means that Callas starts from a rather neutral position.”

Nevertheless, the former prime minister of Estonia will want to defend international law and oppose its violations in the Middle East, just as she does in Europe with her accusations against Russia.

Israel hopes that Kalla will become its ally against Iran, which backs Islamist militant groups in the region, including Hamas, and which has also supplied Russia with missiles – putting Ukraine at risk and by extension the security of Europe.

Callas, for her part, has made it clear that she supports Israel’s right to self-defense and has denounced Hamas. He has also supported the two-state solution, while in the past he had also called for a ceasefire.

While still Prime Minister of Estonia, the latter increased financial aid for humanitarian aid in Gaza. Although Estonia does not recognize Palestine as a state, under Kalla’s leadership the country sponsored a UN resolution that would have included Palestine in the Organization as a full member.

No clear position at this time

Evin Incir, a Swedish MEP from the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), expressed her concern that Callas has so far not prioritized the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and that she is not taking as clear a position as she had hoped S&D.

Borrell has argued that the EU should redouble its efforts to achieve a two-state solution and earlier this year welcomed Israelis and Palestinians to that end. He condemned the “bloodbath” in Gaza, threatened to sanction Israeli ministers and backed a request by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants against both Hamas officials and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Some, however, believe that the circumstances are not suitable for a two-state solution. “It is meaningless to talk only about the two-state solution” without the right conditions in place, said MEP Mandl.

No to “two meters and two standards”

Many expect that Callas will also want to provide answers to whether the EU often has two standards – in terms of the fact that the EU invokes international law depending on the interests of its allies.

In November, Callas stated that Israel “has the absolute right to defend itself. But it must do so in a way that does not cost innocent lives and is compatible with the principles of international law.” He added that “a crisis in the region benefits no one but those who have an interest in drawing our attention away from other issues and undermining our unity” – apparently meaning that Russia will benefit as long as international attention is diverted from Ukraine in the Middle East.

Whatever attitude Kallas finally adopts towards Israel, no one in Europe doubts that their positions will be influenced by who wins the elections in the USA.

Edited by: Giorgos Passas