Israel Establishes First Permanent Embassy in Slovenia, Appoints Resident Ambassador

The Israeli government has unanimously approved Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar's proposal to appoint Ruth Cohen-Dar as Israel's first resident ambassador to Ljubljana, Slovenia. This historic move marks the establishment of Israel's first permanent embassy in Slovenia, ending years of limited diplomatic presence where Israel operated only through a non-resident ambassador. The decision follows the formation of a new pro-Israel government in Slovenia led by Prime Minister Janez Janša, which has helped improve bilateral relations after a prolonged period of diplomatic stagnation.

Before this appointment, Ruth Cohen-Dar served as Israel's non-resident ambassador to Slovenia and Malta. She has an extensive diplomatic background, including roles as director of the department combating antisemitism and preserving Holocaust memory at the Foreign Ministry, and postings in Israeli embassies in Washington, Vienna, and Warsaw. The Foreign Ministry is currently working to open the embassy in Ljubljana as soon as possible.

Diplomatic relations between Israel and Slovenia were established in 1992, with Slovenia opening its embassy in Israel in 1994. However, Israel had not maintained a permanent diplomatic mission in Slovenia until now. The appointment was first approved by the Foreign Ministry's appointments committee, chaired by Sa'ar, before receiving government approval.