Slovenia Reportedly Blocks EU Statement on Israel's E1 Project
The veto blocked a unanimous EU rebuke of Israeli plans in E1, while Kaja Kallas issued a separate statement after consensus failed.
- Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janaa vetoed a proposed European statement criticizing Israeli construction plans in the West Bank, blocking consensus among all 27 member states.
- This move marks a sharp departure from Slovenia's previous government, which frequently criticized Israeli policy; while some compare this shift to Hungary, officials say the country has not become an automatic supporter of Israel.
- The Czech Republic also opposed the measure following phone calls between Foreign Minister Gideon and his counterparts, resulting in the final text including references to Israeli efforts to prosecute settlers involved in violence.
- With the bloc unable to reach consensus, European External Action Service chief Kaja Kallas issued a statement Aug 23 in her own name, while the Slovenian Foreign Ministry maintained its underlying policy supports a two-state solution.
- Israel is expected to open its first embassy in Ljubljana in mid-September, though internal divisions persist as President Nataaa Pirc Musar remains a sharp critic of Israel, creating a complex domestic landscape.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Slovenia undercuts EU condemnation of Israel's West Bank E1 settlement plan
Slovenia downgraded a joint EU statement condemning Israel's planned settlement construction in the West Bank's E1, leading to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas issuing a statement in her own name rather than on behalf of all 27 member states
Could Slovenia become Israel’s new shield inside the EU?
Slovenia and the Czech Republic blocked a joint EU statement against E1 construction, forcing Kaja Kallas to issue one alone, as Jerusalem sees a sharp shift under Ljubljana’s new government ahead of Israel’s first embassy opening there in September
After consultations, Uradna Ljubljana did not support the proposed EU27 statement, so Foreign Policy Representative Kaja Kallas could only publish it on her own behalf.
Slovenia is said to have blocked the adoption of an EU statement last week condemning Israel's plans to build homes for Israeli settlers in a strategically important part of the occupied West Bank, the EUobserver portal reported. As a result, Brussels only published a statement by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas condemning the plans.
Last week, Slovenia blocked the adoption of a joint EU statement condemning Israel's plans to build homes for Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. The government believes that the statement "would not bring added value at this time."
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