Slovenia lifts entry ban on Netanyahu and ends Israel sanctions

Slovenia’s new conservative government, led by Prime Minister Janez Jansa, has reversed the punitive measures imposed by the previous centre‑left administration against Israel. The entry bans on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich were lifted, the arms export embargo was ended and the ban on imports from West Bank settlements was removed.

The government said the steps were meant to reopen political communication and strengthen Slovenia’s role in seeking lasting peace in the Middle East. Israel announced plans to open an embassy in Ljubljana. The bans had been linked to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Netanyahu, and liberal President Natasa Pirc Musar had previously raised a Palestinian flag after the prior government’s removal of the flag from the presidential building.