Why Israel opened its first Slovenia embassy in just three months: ‘Czechia couldn’t stand alone’

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar inaugurated Israel’s first embassy in Slovenia, completing the diplomatic push in three months due to Slovenia's shift towards Israel and Israel's need for EU allies. The embassy, currently in temporary premises in Ljubljana, is the fifth Sa’ar has opened in 18 months. Slovenia's new government reversed previous anti-Israel policies, including lifting a flight ban, revoking Palestinian state recognition, and declaring an intent to move its embassy to Jerusalem. This shift transformed Slovenia into one of Israel's closest EU partners, demonstrated by its recent veto alongside Czechia of an EU condemnation of Israel’s E1 construction plan. A senior diplomatic official stated, "Czechia would not have been able to withstand the pressure alone, so it needed another country to support it." The urgent establishment of the embassy aimed to provide support for Czechia within the EU following political changes in Hungary. Sa'ar also led a delegation of Israeli businesspeople to deepen economic and political ties.