Slovenia becomes first EU country to impose arms embargo on Israel
Slovenia on Thursday imposed an arms embargo on Israel citing the European Union's failure to take action to stop Israel's assault on Gaza.
"At the initiative of Prime Minister Robert Golob, the Slovenian government confirmed a decision prohibiting the export and transit of military weapons and equipment from or through the Republic of Slovenia to Israel, or the import from Israel to Slovenia," a government statement read.
Golob announced the decision after a government meeting, saying that his country is the first EU nation to take such a step.
Two weeks ago, Slovenia was also the first EU country to declare two Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, persona non grata, accusing them of making "genocidal statements" against Palestinians.
In June 2024, Slovenia followed Norway, Spain and Ireland in recognising Palestine as an independent state and has been among the most vocal European nations in its criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza, with President Natasa Pirc Musar describing the onslaught as a genocide.
In their meeting in mid-July, the EU’s 27 foreign ministers failed to agree on the suspension of the controversial EU-Israel Association Agreement, which covers both trade and political relations. They also failed to agree on nine other possible measures against Israel put forward after it was found to have breached the human rights provisions of the trade agreement.
The measures that would have been agreed last month included full suspension of the agreement, suspension of its preferential trade provisions, an arms embargo, sanctions on Israeli ministers, or imposing a ban on trade with Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine.
Slovenia's Golob has repeatedly stated that his government would act independently if the EU fails to take concrete measures against Israel by mid-July.
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