Ljubljana – On Thursday, the Slovenian government designated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a persona non grata. State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Neva Grašič, stated that this action follows similar measures taken in July against two extreme Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
Grašič highlighted ongoing proceedings against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, noting that the International Court of Justice had determined on July 19, 2024, that multiple Israeli policies contravene international humanitarian and human rights law. She referenced a report from an independent inquiry commission of the UN Human Rights Council, which concluded on September 16 that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians.
“This action reaffirms Slovenia’s commitment to international law, universal human rights, and a principled foreign policy,” she stated during a press conference following the government meeting. She clarified that this decision does not target the Israeli population but aims to convey a message to the Israeli government about the expectation to respect international legal rulings and humanitarian law.
Prime Minister Robert Golob indicated at the end of June that Slovenia would collaborate with other like-minded EU member states if the European Union did not implement measures against Israel. He mentioned that collective actions at the EU level would exert greater pressure than individual measures by member states. Slovenia has thus positioned itself among the first European countries to impose concrete sanctions against Israel. (September 25)
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