Israel Appoints First Resident Ambassador to Slovenia, Marking Diplomatic Shift

In a historic diplomatic move, the Israeli government unanimously approved Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar's proposal to appoint Ruth Cohen-Dar as Israel's first resident ambassador to Slovenia. Cohen-Dar, who previously served as a non-resident ambassador to Slovenia and Malta, will be based in Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital, following the decision to establish a permanent Israeli embassy there. Until now, Israel managed its relations with Slovenia through a non-resident ambassador without a fixed diplomatic presence.

Cohen-Dar brings extensive diplomatic experience, having served as head of the Foreign Ministry's department combating antisemitism and preserving Holocaust memory, and held postings in Washington, Vienna, and Warsaw. The appointment was approved by the Ministerial Committee for Foreign Service Appointments before the government vote. The Foreign Ministry is working to open the embassy promptly to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between Israel and Slovenia.

Israel and Slovenia established diplomatic relations in 1992 after Slovenia's independence from Yugoslavia. Slovenia opened an embassy in Israel in 1994, but Israel had no permanent embassy in Ljubljana until now. Relations had been strained due to the previous Slovenian government's recognition of a Palestinian state and an arms embargo on Israel. The positive shift began with the new Slovenian government led by Janez Janša, a known friend of Israel, who reversed these policies and expressed intentions to move Slovenia's embassy to Jerusalem.

This embassy opening aligns with Israel's broader strategy to enhance its diplomatic footprint worldwide, including recent embassy openings in Estonia, Papua New Guinea, and Somaliland. Slovenia, as an EU and NATO member, is a strategic partner for Israel in Europe. The appointment is expected to be welcomed by the Jewish community and Israel supporters in Slovenia, anticipating stronger diplomatic, economic, and cultural relations.