Slovenia’s New Prime Minister Meets Samaria Council Head After Lifting West Bank Sanctions

In Ljubljana, Slovenia’s new prime minister, Janez Janša, held one of his first diplomatic meetings since taking office with Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, whom he called an old friend. The meeting came just days after Janša entered office and followed a series of major decisions by the new Slovenian government, including ending the boycott on goods imported from Judea and Samaria and lifting the arms embargo on Israel.

Dagan and Janša have maintained close contact for years. After Slovenia’s latest elections, they met in Ljubljana even before the new government was formed, and they have also held meetings and toured in Samaria and in the Slovenian capital.

Until about a month ago, Slovenia was considered one of Israel’s most hostile European countries, alongside Spain and Ireland. In May last year, its government formally recognized a Palestinian state, and in the summer it imposed an unprecedented ban on imports from Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria as well as on arms trade with Israel. Slovenia was the first country in Europe to adopt such an official boycott decision.

Now, with Janša in power, the country appears to be making a sharp shift in foreign policy toward Israel and the settlements. Dagan thanked him for the meeting, saying, “Thank you very much for this important meeting... all the people of Israel appreciate you, especially the pioneers building Judea and Samaria.” Janša replied, “May God bless the residents of Judea and Samaria. May the friendship between Israel and Slovenia be long-lived.”