"They claim I support genocide - just because I treat Israel with friendship"

Slovenian Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer inaugurated the Israeli embassy in Ljubljana together with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, and signed cooperation agreements. In an interview with 'Hayom', Kajzer said his country will not succumb to pressures from home and Europe, and that boycotts do not promote peace. The move marks a turnaround in Slovenia's policy, after the previous government boycotted Israel and imposed an arms embargo.

Slovenian Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer yesterday (Thursday) inaugurated the Israeli embassy in Ljubljana, together with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar. The ceremony included the signing of cooperation agreements in education, youth, sports, and scholarships, and a business forum with an Israeli economic delegation was held concurrently. In an exclusive interview with 'Hayom', Kajzer said the relations would be "open, strong, and based on trust." The move marks a turnaround in Slovenia's policy: the previous government displayed hostility, canceled direct flights, declared Netanyahu persona non grata, and was the first European country to independently ban arms transfers to Israel. The new government, led by Janez Janša, has lifted all bans. Kajzer addressed the harsh criticism in his country and Europe, saying critics are "fed by propaganda" and "victims of disinformation manipulation." He emphasized that boycotts are not the solution and that dialogue must be maintained. Slovenia is becoming a strategic defender of Israel in the European Union, and Sa'ar pledged to continue expanding Israel's diplomatic presence worldwide.