Slovenia lifts anti‑Israel sanctions under new Janša government

Slovenia’s newly elected conservative government, led by Prime Minister Janez Janša, has repealed the anti‑Israeli measures introduced by the previous administration of Robert Golob. The reversals include removing the entry ban on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, ending the import ban on goods from Jewish settlements in the West Bank, and lifting the arms‑trade prohibition with Israel. The government also took down a Palestinian flag displayed on a state building.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar welcomed the changes, describing Janša as a “friend of Israel.” Israel announced it will open its first embassy in Ljubljana, marking a new chapter in bilateral relations and signaling a shift toward closer cooperation in areas such as innovation, digital technology, and security.