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Israel has appointed its first-ever resident ambassador to Slovenia as relations between the two countries have improved under Slovenia’s new government.
The announcement was made on Sunday, with Israel naming Ruth Cohen-Dar as its first permanent ambassador based in Ljubljana.
Cohen-Dar had previously served as Israel’s non-resident ambassador to Slovenia and Malta.
The appointment comes a month after Israel announced plans to open an embassy in Slovenia.
According to Israel’s Foreign Ministry, the move reflects improving diplomatic ties following the election of Slovenia’s conservative Prime Minister Janez Janša.
“The decision to establish the embassy was made after many years of a downturn in relations between Israel and Slovenia, and following the formation of a new government in Slovenia headed by Janez Jansa, a friend of Israel,” the ministry said.
Relations had deteriorated under former Prime Minister Robert Golob, whose government described Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as “genocide.”
Since taking office, Janša’s government has lifted an arms embargo on Israel, removed entry bans on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and two of his ministers, and reversed a ban on imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The new government has also removed a Palestinian flag that had been displayed on a government building after Slovenia recognised Palestinian statehood in 2024.
