Israel Appoints First Resident Ambassador to Slovenia as Ties Warm Under Janša

Israel is moving to establish its first physical embassy in Slovenia, with the Foreign Ministry’s appointments committee approving Ruth Cohen-Dar as Israel’s first resident ambassador in Ljubljana.

The appointment, approved by the committee headed by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, is part of a broader Israeli effort to upgrade ties with Slovenia after years of strained relations. It follows the formation of a new government in Ljubljana led by Prime Minister Janez Janša, who is considered more favorable toward Israel than the previous Slovenian leadership.

Cohen-Dar has until now served as Israel’s non-resident ambassador to Slovenia and Malta. In that role, she represented Israel in Slovenia while visiting the country only occasionally. Her new posting would make her Israel’s first ambassador based permanently in Ljubljana.

Before her current diplomatic role, Cohen-Dar headed the Foreign Ministry’s department for combating antisemitism and preserving Holocaust memory. During her diplomatic career, she also served in Israel’s embassies in Washington, Vienna and Warsaw.

Sa’ar first announced the plan to open an embassy in Ljubljana earlier this month, after Janša’s new government was approved by the Slovenian parliament. At the time, Sa’ar said the change in government created a new opening for relations between Jerusalem and Ljubljana.

“The election of Prime Minister Janez Janša marks a new chapter in relations between Israel and Slovenia,” Sa’ar said. He added that after “years of hostility” from the previous Slovenian government, Israel now had an opportunity “to rebuild, strengthen, and deepen a real partnership.”

Janša welcomed Israel’s decision to open the embassy, writing on X: “Welcome to Ljubljana. Looking forward to a new era in Israel-Slovenia relations.”

Relations between Israel and Slovenia reached several low points under the previous Slovenian government. Slovenia recognized a Palestinian state, imposed entry bans on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and two Israeli ministers, placed restrictions on imports from Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, and adopted an arms embargo involving Israel.

Janša’s government reversed several of those measures on June 11, including the entry ban, the import restrictions and the arms embargo. Slovenian officials said the changes were meant to restore political dialogue with Israel and allow diplomatic engagement.

Cohen-Dar’s appointment is not yet final. It will still be brought before the ministerial committee for foreign service appointments and then the full cabinet for approval. The Foreign Ministry is now working to establish the new Israeli embassy in Ljubljana as soon as possible.