Israel opens embassy in Slovenia as small EU nation shifts policies, tell me about this news in (https://www.wral.com/news/ap/747a0-israel-opens-embassy-in-slovenia-as-small-eu-nation-shifts-policies/)

Israel has officially opened its first resident embassy in Ljubljana, Slovenia, marking a dramatic shift in diplomatic relations between the two countries. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar attended the inauguration alongside Slovenian Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer.Key details surrounding this development include:• Political Turnaround in Slovenia: Under the previous center-left government led by Robert Golob, Slovenia was among the European Union’s fiercest critics of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Golob’s administration had officially recognized a Palestinian state, placed an embargo on arms trade with Israel, banned imports from West Bank settlements, and imposed entry bans on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and far-right ministers.• Reversal Under Janez Janša: The return of right-wing nationalist Prime Minister Janez Janša brought an immediate reset in foreign policy. Janša’s government reversed previous restrictions, lifted the arms embargo, dropped the entry bans against Israeli officials, lifted bans on settlement imports, and vetoed an EU statement condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank.• Diplomatic Context: The opening gives Israel a firmer diplomatic foothold within the European Union and NATO at a time when relations between Israel and several other European nations (such as the UK) have grown increasingly strained over West Bank settlement policies and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.• Domestic Pushback and Protests: The policy shift has drawn controversy within Slovenia. The embassy opening prompted protests from rights groups and condemnation from political opposition, who accused the government of becoming an instrument of Israeli policy. Public polling published in Slovenia also indicated that a majority of the Slovenian public opposed closer diplomatic ties with Israel.