Slovenia’s government under Prime Minister Janez Janša lifted all sanctions against Israel today (Thursday), including an embargo on arms exports and imports. The decision reverses measures taken by the previous government of Robert Golob, which had cited violations of international law and harm to ‘Palestinian’ human rights in Judea and Samaria and Gaza.
Among the canceled decisions was the declaration of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “persona non grata” in Slovenia, along with Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir. The ban on importing products from Israel originating in Judea and Samaria was also lifted. Slovenia’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that these sanctions were never actually implemented.
The Foreign Ministry said lifting the sanctions restores conditions for normal political dialogue with Israel, and that through quiet diplomacy Slovenia will be able to strengthen its role in efforts to achieve sustainable peace in the Middle East. The ministry noted that expanding bilateral cooperation will create opportunities in innovation, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, cyber, water management, agriculture, health, science, defense and rescue, and economic cooperation.
Slovenia’s Defense Ministry announced that the decision banning export and transit of weapons and military equipment from Slovenia to Israel, and imports from Israel to Slovenia, has also been canceled. The Defense Ministry stressed that the embargo decision was unnecessary from the outset. At the same time, Slovenia remains committed to respecting international law and UN conventions, as well as its position regarding a solution that would enable coexistence of Israelis and ‘Palestinians’.