Israel to open embassy in Slovenia

JERUSALEM: Israel announced on Thursday that it will open an embassy in Slovenia, marking what it hopes will be a new chapter in relations with the European country under the newly formed government in Ljubljana.
Ties between Israel and Slovenia had soured after the previous center-left government of Robert Golob recognized Palestinian statehood in 2024 and also characterised Israel’s military offensive in Gaza as “genocide.”
With the formation of a new government under conservative Prime Minister Janez Jansa, however, Israel is now looking to rebuild its relationship with Slovenia.
“Today, I am proud to announce that Israel will open its first-ever embassy in Ljubljana,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar wrote on X.
He said the election of Jansa “marks a new chapter in relations between Israel and Slovenia.”
“After years of the hostility of the previous government, we now have an opportunity to rebuild, strengthen, and deepen a real partnership.
“An Israeli embassy is more than a diplomatic mission... We are turning today a new page,” Saar added as he announced plans to establish the embassy.
Under the previous government, Slovenia also announced a ban on all weapons trade with Israel over the war in Gaza.
It also declared a ban on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, citing ICC proceedings against him over alleged war crimes committed in Gaza.
That move followed the then government’s ban against two Israeli far-right ministers, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
It accused them of inciting “extreme violence and serious violations of the human rights of Palestinians” with “their genocidal statements.”