Slovenia first in EU to impose full arms ban on Israel

Slovenia first in EU to impose full arms ban on Israel

Politics

The Slovenian government has imposed a ban on all weapons trade with Israel as the first EU country to do so, a move that signals its willingness to take unilateral measures in the absence of EU action.

The government decree prohibits all imports and exports of weapons to and from Israel, as well as transit of Israel-bound weapons through Slovenia's territory, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

"Slovenia has become the first European country to ban the imports, exports and transit of weapons to and from Israel," Prime Minister Robert Golob said.

The decision is part of Slovenia's efforts to step up pressure on Israel. Golob has said on multiple occasions that Slovenia would act unilaterally in the absence of concerted EU action.

"The EU is currently incapable of completing this task due to internal discord and disunity," the government said.

"The result thereof is shameful: people in Gaza are dying because they are systematically denied humanitarian aid. They are dying under rubble, without access to drinking water, food and basic healthcare."

"In such circumstances it is the duty of every responsible country to act, even if that means taking a step before others do," a government press release reads.

The government said additional measures would be taken in the coming weeks against the Israeli government, whose conduct "represents a grave violation of international humanitarian law".

The arms embargo comes less than month after the government declared two far-right Israeli ministers personae non grata in Slovenia, accusing them of inciting "extreme violence and serious violations of the human rights of Palestinians" with their "genocidal statements".

And on the day it imposed the embargo, it also protested with the Israeli ambassador over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

Slovenia has been one of the most vocal critics of Israel within the EU since the national parliament passed a decree in June 2024 recognising Palestinian statehood.

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