Slovenia Reverses Israel Sanctions and Clears Way for First Israeli Embassy

The conservative Janša cabinet in Slovenia has rolled back the pro‑Palestinian policies of the previous Golob administration. Within days of taking office, Prime Minister Janez Janša lifted the weapons embargo on Israel, ended the ban on Israeli officials—including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Itamar Ben‑Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich—entering the country, and removed restrictions on imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced that Israel will open its first embassy in Ljubljana, describing the change as the start of a new partnership.

The shift follows the removal of the Palestinian flag that had been displayed on the Slovenian government building under Golob, and a series of senior security‑agency appointments by Janša. The move restores diplomatic ties that had been strained during the Gaza conflict, aligning Slovenia more closely with Israel and signaling a decisive foreign‑policy realignment.