Israel sends ambassador to Slovenia for the first time

Israel is set to open its first embassy in Slovenia, with Ruth Cohen-Dar nominated as the resident ambassador. The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday that the government unanimously approved Cohen-Dar's nomination for the post in Ljubljana.

This development comes about a month after Israel announced its intention to establish a permanent diplomatic presence in Slovenia. Previously, Cohen-Dar served as Israel's ambassador to Slovenia and Malta without a fixed residence in either country.

The decision to open an embassy in Ljubljana was made shortly after the election of right-wing nationalist Janez Janša as Slovenia's prime minister. Janša, now serving his third term, is known for his admiration of former U.S. President Donald Trump and has had a contentious relationship with the European Union in the past. He succeeded the liberal Robert Golob, who had replaced him in 2022.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar welcomed the shift in Slovenia's political landscape, calling it a "new chapter" in bilateral relations. The previous Slovenian government under Golob had recognized a State of Palestine in 2024 and denied entry to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2025, citing investigations by the International Criminal Court against him.

Janša's administration, however, lifted a weapons embargo against Israel and rescinded entry bans for Netanyahu and two far-right ministers on June 11. Ambassador-designate Cohen-Dar previously headed the Israeli Foreign Ministry's department for combating antisemitism and Holocaust remembrance.

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New chapter