Slovenia scraps Netanyahu entry ban, easing Israel curbs

Slovenia abolishes – Slovenia’s new conservative government abolished an entry ban on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and two other ministers, also lifting restrictions on imports from Jewish settlements and ending an embargo covering Israeli military exports and transit

When Slovenia’s new conservative government started moving on Israel, it wasn’t subtle. The entry ban was the first thing to go—Benjamin Netanyahu no longer barred from entering the small Alpine nation, along with two of his ministers.

On Thursday, Slovenia’s government abolished an entry ban on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and two of his ministers, a reversal of policies pursued by the previous center-left administration. The move was reported by the official STA news agency.

The changes go beyond the entry bans. Prime Minister Janez Jansa’s government also lifted a ban on imports from Jewish settlements and ended an embargo on the export and transit of military weapons and equipment to and from Israel.

Jansa’s government took office earlier this month after a parliamentary election held in March. Jansa has said he would seek to improve ties with Israel, contrasting with the approach of his predecessor, Robert Golob. Under Golob, Slovenia was among the European Union’s most vocal critics of Israel. The country recognized a Palestinian state in 2024. then imposed the entry bans in 2025 on National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Netanyahu.

Those restrictions had drawn wide attention. Ben-Gvir was also banned by France last month. He has sparked global outrage after promoting a video of himself taunting activists from a flotilla to Gaza who were detained by Israeli police.

In a statement, Slovenia’s new government said it was scrapping the punitive measures to open political communication, STA reported. The Defense Ministry said weapons trading is already sufficiently regulated by existing national defense laws and the EU arms export criteria. the same report said. The government said political dialogue and quiet diplomacy will help “strengthen the role of the Republic of Slovenia in the efforts to achieve a lasting peace in the Middle East. ” adding that it was moving away from “actions that limit and close off channels for direct communication.”.

Slovenia’s prior decision to link the Netanyahu entry ban to legal grounds also came underlining the shift. Last year, Slovenia linked the entry ban to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.

The policy pivot has already shown up in symbolism as well. Shortly after Jansa took office, his government removed a Palestinian flag from the government building. Natasa Pirc Musar, Slovenia’s liberal president, then raised the flag on the presidency building.

This month, the diplomatic picture has also been changing. Israel announced it would open an embassy in Slovenia. Its embassy in the Austrian capital Vienna has previously covered Israel’s diplomatic interests in Slovenia.

Jansa is serving his fourth term in office. The veteran politician is an admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump and a close ally of former populist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who was defeated in a landslide election in April.

The March 22 election that brought Jansa to power was marred by allegations of foreign influence and corruption. Slovenia’s population—about 2 million people—is deeply divided between liberals and conservatives. and the country’s latest move on Israel underlines how much that divide is now shaping foreign policy.

Slovenia Janez Jansa Netanyahu Itamar Ben-Gvir Bezalel Smotrich entry ban Israel Jewish settlements imports military weapons embargo Palestinian flag Natasa Pirc Musar International Criminal Court