New Slovenian government lifts entry ban on Netanyahu and other measures against Israel

Slovenia's new conservative government today lifted a ban on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and two of his ministers from entering the country, marking a shift in policy toward Israel followed by the previous center-left government.

The government of Prime Minister Janez Janša also lifted the ban on imports from Israeli settlements and the embargo on the export and transit of military weapons and equipment to and from Israel, the Slovenian news agency STA reported.

Janša's government took office earlier this month after parliamentary elections in March. Janša has said he will seek to improve ties with Israel in contrast to the policies of his predecessor, Robert Golob, the AP reports.

Under Golob, Slovenia was one of Israel's most vocal critics in the European Union. The country recognized a Palestinian state in 2024 before imposing entry bans in 2025 on Israeli national security ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Netanyahu.

Ben-Gwir was also banned from entering France last month. He sparked global outrage when he promoted a video showing him taunting Gaza flotilla activists who were being detained by Israeli police.

The new Slovenian government announced that it was lifting the punitive measure in order to open up political communication, STA reports. The Ministry of Defense stated that the arms trade is already sufficiently regulated by existing national defense laws and criteria.

"Political dialogue and quiet diplomacy will help strengthen the role of the Republic of Slovenia in efforts to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East," the Slovenian government said. It called for active cooperation on actions that limit and close channels of direct communication.

Last year, Slovenia linked an entry ban on Netanyahu to an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court.

Shortly after taking office, Janša's government removed the Palestinian flag from the government building, also symbolically marking the change in policy.

Slovenian Liberal President Nataša Pirc Musar then raised that flag on the presidency building.

Israel also announced this month that it would open an embassy in Slovenia. The Israeli embassy in Vienna previously covered diplomatic interests in neighboring Slovenia.