Israel Appoints First Resident Ambassador to Slovenia, Opening Embassy in Ljubljana

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has approved the appointment of Ruth Cohen-Dar as the first resident Israeli ambassador to Slovenia, marking the establishment of Israel's first physical embassy in the country. Until now, Israel maintained no permanent diplomatic mission in Slovenia, with Cohen-Dar previously serving as a non-resident ambassador covering Slovenia and Malta, visiting Slovenia only occasionally.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar described the appointment as part of a strategic initiative to open a permanent Israeli embassy in Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital. Cohen-Dar brings extensive diplomatic experience, having previously led the department combating antisemitism and preserving Holocaust memory at the Foreign Ministry, and served in Israeli embassies in Washington, Vienna, and Warsaw.

The decision to open the embassy follows years of strained relations between Israel and Slovenia and coincides with the formation of a new Slovenian government led by Prime Minister Janez Janša, who is regarded as a friend of Israel. Janša welcomed the move on social media, expressing optimism for a "new era in Israel-Slovenia relations." The Foreign Ministry is currently working to establish the embassy as soon as possible, with the appointment pending final approval by the government and the ministerial committee for foreign service appointments.