Exactly one year ago, in May 2025, Slovenia’s government officially recognized a ‘Palestinian state’. That summer, Slovenia took the unprecedented step of banning imports from Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria and halting arms trade with Israel—becoming the first European country to do so officially.
The move cemented Slovenia’s status as one of the three most hostile EU member states toward Israel, alongside Spain and Ireland. Just last week, Slovenia’s state public television boycotted Eurovision over Israel’s participation and dedicated the competition days to a broadcast week titled “Voices from ‘Palestine’.”
The picture began to shift when the left-wing government fell in recent elections and Janez Janša, a conservative supporter of Israel and friend of Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, was tapped to form the new government. The two met over a year ago during Janša’s visit to Israel and have maintained regular contact since.
As coalition talks progressed in recent weeks, the two held an under-the-radar meeting in Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, to discuss future cooperation. At the meeting’s conclusion, they filmed an official video in which Slovenia’s incoming prime minister sent a warm message to Samaria residents: “I am sending greetings to the residents of Judea and Samaria. I wish you all the best, happy lives, peace and growth.”
Dagan emphasized the strategic importance of Janša’s election for the free world: “We are praying for your success, because your success is the success of all of Europe. I promise you that we stand together, and we will win together.”
After Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban lost his election, Hungary—which had been Israel’s primary defender in the European Union—no longer shields it from sanctions. The EU recently passed a resolution imposing sanctions on entities and organizations in Judea and Samaria—something previously prevented by Hungary’s veto on anti-Israel votes.
That’s why ties with Slovenia’s incoming prime minister and his sympathy for Israel are critical to the State of Israel and certainly to the settlement enterprise in Judea and Samaria. Slovenia is expected to step into Hungary’s shoes and serve as a pro-Israel opposition within the European Union—helping prevent the international body from passing resolutions against the state.