Israel Opens Embassy In Slovenia As Slovenia Reverses Israel Policy

Israel opened its first resident embassy in Slovenia on Wednesday, September 9, marking a major improvement in ties with the small European Union and NATO member even as Israel faces growing diplomatic pressure over its policies in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar travelled to Ljubljana for the opening and called it a “historic day” after meeting his Slovenian counterpart Tone Kajzer. Saar described Israel as “the only democracy in the Middle East” and said it was defending Europe’s security and acting as a “fortress on the front line for Western civilisation.”

Kajzer said the embassy opening should mark the beginning of greater dialogue and stronger cooperation between the two countries. Slovenia and Israel also signed a 2026 to 2030 cooperation programme covering education, science, culture, youth and sport. An economic forum involving Israeli business representatives was also held in Ljubljana.

The move represents a sharp foreign policy shift under Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, who returned to power with a centre-right government in June. His administration has reversed several measures adopted by the previous government of Robert Golob, including an arms embargo, restrictions on imports from Israeli settlements and entry bans on Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Slovenia had also recognised a Palestinian state in 2024.

Jansa has defended the reversal, saying his government is working to repair what he called the damage caused by the previous administration. Golob, however, accused Jansa of moving Slovenia away from international law and towards a policy that favours Israel.

The shift has triggered a strong domestic backlash. Thousands of protesters gathered in Ljubljana on Wednesday against the embassy opening and Israel’s actions in Gaza. Opposition parties, including Golob’s Freedom Movement and the Left party, also submitted a proposal seeking the removal of Jansa and Foreign Minister Kajzer over the government's foreign policy.

The embassy opening also came amid growing pressure on Israel from several Western countries. On September 8, the United Kingdom, France, Canada and other countries announced measures targeting products from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Israel responded by announcing the closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem and other measures against Britain.

Slovenia’s previous government had been among Israel’s strongest critics in the EU. The new embassy therefore marks not only a strengthening of bilateral ties but also one of the clearest examples of the country's foreign policy reversal under Jansa.

The Israeli embassy in Vienna had previously handled Israel’s diplomatic affairs with Slovenia. The new resident mission is expected to deepen political, economic, scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries.