JNS
The foreign minister also expressed hope for improved relations under Kaja Kallas, the new E.U. High Representative.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar expressed optimism about the potential opportunities for Israel under Donald Trump’s second term as U.S. president.
Speaking before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday, Sa’ar described 2025 as a year of challenges and possibilities.
“The coming year will undoubtedly be challenging, but it also brings great opportunities, especially with the incoming administration led by President-elect Donald Trump,” Sa’ar stated. “We recall the positive aspects of his first term and take note of the individuals he has chosen for key roles in his administration. While disagreements may arise on certain issues, there is certainly room for optimism.”
Reflecting on the past year, Sa’ar reviewed Israel’s foreign relations and addressed the country’s budget during his remarks, as reported by Israel National News.
“This has been an extraordinarily difficult year for Israel,” he said. “We faced military threats on multiple fronts, as well as diplomatic, public relations and legal challenges. Yet Israel ends the year as a strong and stable nation in a region rife with upheaval, which provides a basis for optimism.”
Sa’ar also addressed Israel’s evolving relationship with the European Union.
“Following the conclusion of Josep Borrell’s term as the E.U.’s High Representative, there was a push to cancel the E.U.-Israel Association Agreement,” he said. “Now, under the new High Representative, Kaja Kallas, we have scheduled an Association Council meeting in Brussels in two months, which I will lead.”
“This signals the beginning of a constructive dialogue with the EU,” he continued.
The European Union Foreign Affairs Council decided to resume its Association Council meetings with Israel, Kallas said after meeting European foreign ministers on Dec. 16.
The E.U.-Israel Association Council, which last convened in 2022 during the premiership of Yair Lapid after a 10-year pause, is a meeting meant to be held annually between Jerusalem and the foreign ministers of all 27 member states of the European Union to discuss matters of mutual concern.
During Monday’s address, Sa’ar tempered expectations but emphasized progress.
“There won’t be a honeymoon period, and the challenges are significant. However, for the first time, we are establishing a real framework for advancing Israel’s global public diplomacy efforts,” he said. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must spearhead not only diplomatic initiatives but also campaigns to garner public support worldwide.”
Turning to the budget, Sa’ar highlighted a new government decision that could significantly bolster public diplomacy efforts.
“Assuming the 2025 budget is approved, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will, for the first time, have the resources for a basic public diplomacy campaign,” he said. “The current budget is embarrassingly insufficient. Our approach must shift from defense to offense; we have a strong case to present on the global stage. A more assertive strategy is essential, and this is the policy I intend to pursue.”
