The government of Janez Janša will freeze the recognition of the Palestinian state, move its embassy to Jerusalem, and restore ties with Israel
The decision follows the line initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump during his first term, when he ordered the relocation of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem in 2018. Janša also stated that Israel constitutes one of Europe's most important strategic allies and rejected the narrative promoted by some European governments in recent years.
''Israel is not Europe's problem; it is one of its most important allies,'' declared the leader, who added that both democracies face common threats related to terrorism, regional security, and instability in the Middle East.
The first measures taken by the new Executive reflect the shift in diplomatic orientation. As soon as he took office, Janša ordered the removal of the Palestinian flag that had been flying for two years at the main Government headquarters in Ljubljana, a gesture that symbolized the end of the policy promoted by the previous administration.
Additionally, he lifted the entry ban on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and two of his ministers, as well as revoking the restrictions approved in 2025 on the export, import, and transit of military material between the two countries.
The rapprochement between Jerusalem and Ljubljana is also advancing on the diplomatic front. Earlier this month, Israel's Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, confirmed that his country will soon open an embassy in the Slovenian capital, further strengthening bilateral ties.
The new Government of Slovenia announced that it will revoke the recognition of Palestine granted by the previous administration, in one of the most significant foreign policy decisions made since Prime Minister Janez Janša took office. The measure is part of a broad diplomatic shift aimed at rebuilding relations with Israel, strengthening bilateral cooperation, and reversing the main decisions pushed by former Prime Minister Robert Golob.
In statements to an Israeli newspaper, Janša described the decision made by the previous Government to officially recognize Palestine as a State as ''illegal'' and ''contrary to Slovenian legislation'', assuring that his administration will suspend that resolution.
''We will respect the law and freeze that illegal decision. We raised this point as a condition to participate in coalition negotiations, and everyone agreed,'' said the head of Government, who maintained that the recognition approved by his predecessors never had a valid legal basis.
The announcement represents a radical change regarding the foreign policy applied during Robert Golob's term, whose administration became one of the most critical of Israel within the European Union. During that period, Ljubljana supported Palestinian recognition, repeatedly denounced Israeli military operations in Gaza, and promoted an agenda of increasing distancing from the Government of Jerusalem.
Janša made it clear that his priority will be to fully restore relations with Israel and abandon a diplomatic strategy that harmed Slovenia's national interests.
As part of this new approach, the Prime Minister confirmed that the Government will move the Slovenian embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, becoming one of the few European countries to recognize Israeli sovereignty in this way.
