Slovenia's Janša Pledges Jerusalem Embassy, Lifts Arms Ban, Reverses Palestinian Recognition

Slovenia's new Prime Minister Janez Janša announced on June 28 that Ljubljana will relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, becoming the first European Union member state to do so. The move caps a dramatic pro-Israel realignment by the incoming government, which on taking office removed the PLO flag that had flown over the prime minister's building for two years, revoked the previous left-wing government's 2025 ban on arms exports to Israel, and pledged to freeze Slovenia's recognition of a Palestinian state. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar thanked Janša and said Israel will open an embassy in Ljubljana without delay. The reversal ends a years-long hostile posture by the Robert Golob government, which had pushed EU sanctions and blocked an Israir aircraft from landing in its final days.