Israel set to open first embassy in Slovenia’s capital, as thawing ties buck trend

Analysis

Alpine nation was one of Israel’s harshest critics in Europe until new government flipped policy, but poll says closer ties to Jerusalem opposed by 56% of Slovenian public

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — A chill has set in between much of Europe and Israel recently over its policies toward Palestinians, but the Alpine nation of Slovenia is bucking the trend.

Under nationalist Prime Minister Janez Janša, Slovenia is launching a diplomatic reset of its relationship with Israel, which will send Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to open its first embassy in Ljubljana on Wednesday.

It is an about-face from the policies of the previous center-left government, which had been one of the EU’s most critical voices on Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, which it described as “genocide.”