Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar inaugurated the embassy in Ljubljana alongside Slovenian Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer, who said the permanent diplomatic presence would strengthen political dialogue and create new opportunities for cooperation in trade, investment, science, technology and culture. Sa’ar described the opening as a “historic day” in relations between Israel and Slovenia.
The move represents a sharp change in Slovenia’s approach to Israel under Prime Minister Janez Janša’s government. Relations had cooled under the previous administration following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza. Slovenia formally recognised Palestine in June 2024 and adopted several measures critical of Israel, including restrictions on arms trade and imports from illegal Israeli settlements. Janša’s government subsequently repealed those measures.
Economic and technological cooperation is also emerging as a key area of the renewed relationship. A Slovenian-Israeli business forum held in Ljubljana alongside the embassy opening brought together 12 Israeli and 35 Slovenian companies, with technology, healthcare and agriculture identified as areas of particular potential.
Bilateral goods trade reached €244 million last year, an increase of 14%, while Slovenian exports to Israel rose 35% to €131 million. Sa’ar and Kajzer also signed a cooperation programme covering education, science, culture, youth and sport through 2030. The Israeli minister highlighted further potential for cooperation in medicine, artificial intelligence and technology.
The renewed ties have, however, triggered domestic political controversy in Slovenia. Thousands of protesters gathered in Ljubljana to oppose the embassy opening and the government’s policy toward Israel, with demonstrators calling for the embassy to be closed and economic cooperation with Israel to end.
Opposition parties have also announced an impeachment motion against Janša and a no-confidence motion against Kajzer, arguing that the government’s policy represents an abandonment of Slovenia’s previous foreign-policy position. The dispute over relations with Israel is therefore expected to remain a significant issue in Slovenian domestic politics.
