A senior World Jewish Congress delegation met Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša and senior government officials in Ljubljana on Thursday, becoming the first major international Jewish organization to visit Slovenia since Israel opened its first resident embassy in the country, the WJC said.
The visit followed the opening of Israel's first resident embassy in Slovenia on September 9, when Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar traveled to Ljubljana and inaugurated the mission alongside Slovenian Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer. The two countries also signed a cooperation program covering education, science, culture, youth, and sports through 2030.
Israel has also named Ruth Cohen-Dar as its first resident ambassador to Slovenia. Cohen-Dar had previously served as Israel's nonresident ambassador to Slovenia and Malta and headed the Foreign Ministry's department dealing with antisemitism and Holocaust remembrance.
The WJC delegation was led by Sara Friedman, CEO of the World Jewish Congress, Israel and North America, and Hadassa Getsztain, chair of WJC Israel. They were joined by Maya Samakovlija, WJC executive director of community relations, and Ernest Herzog, WJC executive director of operations and head of combating antisemitism, intelligence and security.
The organization, which represents Jewish communities in more than 100 countries, described the visit as part of an effort to strengthen engagement with Slovenia following a change in government and the renewed diplomatic contacts between Ljubljana and Jerusalem.
Janša returned to the Slovenian premiership in May for his fourth term in office. His government has since pursued closer relations with Israel after a period of strained ties under former prime minister Robert Golob. Slovenia's government has characterized the renewed relationship as a return to regular political and economic cooperation.
“There are moments in diplomacy when simply showing up carries meaning,” Friedman said. “The World Jewish Congress is here in Slovenia immediately following the opening of Israel’s first resident embassy because we believe this relationship matters, not only for Israel and Slovenia, but for Jewish communities around the world.”
Recent WJC-Slovenia meeting in contrast to atmosphere of April 2024 meeting
The WJC also presented Thursday's meeting as a contrast with a previous mission to Slovenia in April 2024. According to the organization, senior members of the previous government declined to meet Jewish leaders during that visit. The WJC said its representatives also walked out of a meeting with Slovenia's delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance after a senior official attempted to hold the global Jewish community responsible for the war in Gaza.
The organization further said Slovenia's small Jewish community has faced vandalism, threats, and intimidation in recent years, including incidents directed at the Jewish Cultural Center and Jewish cemetery in Ljubljana and threats against community leaders after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
Members of Slovenia's Jewish community had expressed "cautious hope" about relations with the new government following Janša's return to office, while raising concerns about the community's security and its relationship with state institutions.
“Prime Minister Janša has demonstrated the importance of challenging anti-Israel bias and making clear that friendship with the only Jewish State should not be something governments are pressured to abandon. For Jewish people around the world, seeing a European leader stand with Israel, the historic homeland of the Jewish people, and recognize the importance of confronting antisemitism sends a message that extends far beyond Slovenia’s borders.”
During the talks, WJC representatives welcomed the renewed diplomatic engagement between Israel and Slovenia and called for the appointment of a formal special envoy for combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life.
“We are here to convey the message that when governments extend a hand of friendship to Israel and to the Jewish people, the global Jewish community is ready to extend its hand in return. We believe this is the beginning of an important new chapter between Slovenia, Israel and the Jewish world. It is also important for American Jewish business leaders and investors to come to Slovenia, experience the country firsthand and see why it is such a wonderful place to build partnerships and develop new opportunities.”