Thousands protest in Ljubljana as Slovenia opens Israel’s first embassy

Thousands of individuals have rallied in Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana, in protest against the opening of Israel's first embassy in the European Union country.

Key points

• While 14 percent backed them, a poll conducted by the daily newspaper Delo in June suggested that 56 percent of Slovenians resisted closer ties with Israel.
• Travelling to Slovenia for the event, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called it a "historic day" at a news conference.
• Upon taking office, Jansa immediately removed the Palestinian flag from the Slovenian administration building where it was placed alongside the Slovenian, EU and Ukrainian flags.
• Urska Breznik, a 48-year-old art historian, called the Jansa administration a "collaboration" administration.
• "This is a clear expression of Israel's commitment to our friendship and to its future, " Saar continued, thanking the Slovenian administration and ‌Jansa for their friendship towards Israel.

Notably, the protest on Wednesday came as Slovenia's nationalist prime minister, Janez Jansa, pushed through a diplomatic reset with Israel, a sharp reversal from his predecessor, Robert Golob, whose administration had described the Israeli war on Gaza as a "genocide". Jansa took office in July.

In Ljubljana, thousands marched past the hotel where the embassy's inauguration was taking place, carrying banners reading "We stand together for peace and Palestine" and "Genocide is not self-defence".

Urska Breznik, a 48-year-old art historian, called the Jansa administration a "collaboration" administration. Another protester, Melina Sahernik, informed the AFP news agency, "This makes Slovenia look very bad."

Andraz Zorko, a Slovenian political analyst, informed The Associated Press news agency that the government's policy shift does not align with what he believes is the prevailing public opinion in the nation of some 2 million residents.

"The majority of Slovenian public is either against Israel or in some kind of neutral position, " he remarked.

For context, the liberal Freedom Movement, led by former Prime Minister Golob, joined the Left party on Wednesday to submit a proposal to parliament to impeach Jansa, primarily over a foreign policy they remarked serves Israel's interests exclusively.

For context, the party additionally sought to remove Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer, and described the embassy opening as "a return of the favour" for Israel's alleged backing of Jansa during the March election.

As well as a ban on imports from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and the entry of top Israeli authorities, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under Golob, Slovenia had recognised a Palestinian state and imposed an arms embargo on Israel.

Upon taking office, Jansa immediately removed the Palestinian flag from the Slovenian administration building where it was placed alongside the Slovenian, EU and Ukrainian flags. His administration shortly scrapped all measures against Israel.

At the embassy's inauguration, Foreign Minister Kajzer remarked the event should "mark the beginning of a period of greater dialogue, stronger cooperation and, above all, more tangible results for the benefit of our people", according to a post by his ministry on X.

Notably, the opening of the embassy comes a day after the United Kingdom banned trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, and France and Canada confirmed they would take similar action.

For context, the move is seen as a symbolic expression of displeasure with Israel by some of its closest allies, and it offers a new sign of the Israeli government's growing isolation since of the genocidal war on Gaza.

Israel responded angrily and remarked it would close the UK consulate in Jerusalem.

In short, thousands protest in Ljubljana as Slovenia opens Israel's first embassy is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.