Israel appoints first-ever resident ambassador to Slovenia

The flag of Israel. Photographer: Scott Eells/Bloomberg

Israel said on Sunday it has named its first-ever resident ambassador to Slovenia, signalling a diplomatic reset after Ljubljana’s change of government.

Ties between Israel and Slovenia had soured under the previous centre-left government of prime minister Robert Golob, which had characterised Israel’s military offensive in Gaza as “genocide”.

But ties have warmed significantly since conservative Prime Minister Janez Jansa took office.

Israel’s foreign ministry announced that Ruth Cohen‑Dar -- until now non-resident ambassador to Slovenia and Malta -- will become the country’s first permanent envoy in Ljubljana.

The move follows Israel’s decision last month to open an embassy in Slovenia.

“The decision to establish the embassy was made after many years of a downturn in relations between Israel and Slovenia, and following the formation of a new government in Slovenia headed by Janez Jansa, a friend of Israel,” the ministry said.

Slovenia’s new conservative-led government lifted an arms embargo on Israel, scrapped entry bans on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and two of his ministers, and reversed a ban on imports from Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Jansa’s government has also removed a Palestinian flag symbolically displayed on the government building since Slovenia recognised Palestinian statehood in 2024.