Since taking office in June, right-wing populist Prime Minister Janez Janša has shifted Slovenia’s pro-Palestinian policy. The previous centre-left government of Robert Golob strongly criticised Israel. Janša claimed his administration seeks to correct Golob’s “anti-Semitic policies“, which he believes caused significant economic damage.
In August, reports emerged that Slovenia pressured the EU to soften a statement condemning Israeli settlements, sparking domestic criticism and praise from Israel. The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed dismay over the failure to present a unified EU response. Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer said Slovenia “constructively contributed” to the discussions.
On 21 September, the Social Democrats (SD), Freedom Movement (Svoboda), and the Left (Levica) accused Kajzer of blocking the EU statement and failing to inform the National Assembly. Kajzer dismissed their claims as a publicity stunt.
Pro-Palestinian vs pro-Israel policies
During Golob’s tenure, Slovenia was one of the few EU countries to recognise an independent Palestinian state in 2024 formally. His administration imposed an arms embargo on Israel due to military operations in Gaza and criticised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In contrast, Janez Janša’s Slovenian Democratic Party, allied with far-right former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, maintained close ties with Israel. Reports indicated Janša consulted with the Israeli firm Black Cube, though he denied any misconduct. After taking office, he removed the Palestinian flag from the government building and rescinded all measures enacted against Israel.
Golob criticised Janša for obstructing the EU’s stance on illegal settlements, stating that recent actions represent a shift away from international law. Golob’s Freedom Movement plans to seek Janša’s and Foreign Minister Kajzer’s removal in Parliament.
Opposition vs Kajzer
An interpellation concerning Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tone Kajzer has been submitted to the National Assembly, initiated by SD MP Andreja Katič, with support from MPs of Svoboda and Levice. The interpellation addresses Slovenia’s recent decision to be the only EU member to oppose a joint statement on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which prevented its adoption. The government justified this stance by saying the statement added no value, and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu publicly thanked Janša for Slovenia’s position.
Katič emphasised the need to determine who decided to block the statement, why, and how it serves Slovenia’s interests. She criticised Kajzer for not informing the National Assembly about this significant policy shift, arguing that the law required him to do so. In June, Slovenia had maintained that the settlements were illegal, but it then became the sole EU country to hinder consensus on the issue.
Katič warned that while Kajzer claimed continuity in foreign policy, the current government had rescinded measures against Israel previously adopted by its predecessor. She noted reactions from abroad, highlighting the European Commission President’s criticism. Katič concluded that a divided Europe cannot influence events effectively, while Left MP Nataša Sukič accused the government of aligning Slovenian foreign policy with Israeli interests.
