The Media Line: Israel Opens First Embassy in Slovenia as New Government Reverses Boycott  

Israel Opens First Embassy in Slovenia as New Government Reverses Boycott  

By The Media Line Staff  

Israel is set to open its first embassy in Slovenia on Wednesday, marking a new stage in diplomatic relations that have improved since a change of government in Ljubljana.  

Relations between the two countries had been strained in recent years, but the election of nationalist Prime Minister Janez Janša in March brought an improvement in diplomatic ties.  

Slovenia’s former government had been among Israel’s strongest critics in Europe and characterized the Gaza war as “genocide.”  

“Since taking office, Prime Minister Jansa and his new government in Slovenia have demonstrated their friendship toward Israel through both words and actions, and have expressed support for Israel within the European Union,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement.  

“Thank you PM Jansa for your courage and clarity amidst EU hypocrisy,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X late last month, after Slovenia vetoed an EU statement condemning the settlements.  

The move comes as the UK, acting together with France and Canada, has banned all products from the West Bank.  

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar is scheduled to begin a two-day visit to Slovenia on Wednesday. During the trip, he will hold talks with his Slovenian counterpart Tone Kajzer and sign a memorandum on cultural cooperation. Saar will also head a delegation of Israeli businessmen seeking to expand economic ties.  

Under its previous government, Slovenia was one of the first European countries to impose a ban on goods from the West Bank. The country has since lifted that boycott and canceled sanctions that had restricted the entry of certain Israeli officials. 

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