LJUBLJANA — Israel appointed Ruth Cohen-Dar as its first resident ambassador to Slovenia and opened an embassy in Ljubljana on July 7, 2026. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced the opening. Cohen-Dar previously served as the non-resident ambassador to Slovenia and Malta and has held diplomatic posts in Washington, Vienna, and Warsaw. She currently serves as the Director of the Department for Combating Antisemitism and Holocaust Remembrance.

The appointment follows the election of Janez Jansa as Prime Minister of Slovenia in May 2026. Jansa announced plans to relocate the Slovenian embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and stated he would reverse the previous government's decision to recognize a Palestinian state. Slovenia recognized a Palestinian state in May 2024. Jansa also revoked a 2025 decision banning the export and transit of weapons and military equipment to Israel, as well as a 2025 decision banning most arms imports from Israel.

Previous actions by the Slovenian government included sanctions on Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich in July 2025, a travel ban on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and an arms embargo on Israel. Saar stated, "Janez Janša is a prominent friend of Israel, and his selection creates a unique opportunity to advance the bilateral relations between the countries, which have been at a low point in recent years due to the hostility of the previous government in Ljubljana." He added, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under my leadership, will act without delay to capitalize on this opportunity." Jansa stated he is "looking forward to a new era in Slovenia-Israel relations."