Jerusalem, 9 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar inaugurated Israel’s first-ever resident embassy in Slovenia, the fifth Israel has opened in a year and a half, marking a sharp turnaround in relations with the country.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the previous Slovenian government had been hostile toward Israel, canceling flights to Ljubljana, declaring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu persona non grata, and suspending arms agreements. The current government, led by Prime Minister Janez Janša since June, reversed those measures and has expressed support for Israel within the EU.
“We are inaugurating the embassy two days before Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish holy day,” Sa’ar said. “This is a sign of new beginnings and new hopes.”
Slovenian Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer said the countries signed cooperation agreements on “youth, sports, education, and student scholarships,” adding both sides would “strive for relations with Israel to be open, strong, and built on trust.”
The visit included an Israeli-Slovenian business forum alongside a delegation of Israeli company representatives.