The EU Observer has reported that, Slovenia has vetoed an official EU condemnation against Israel’s E1 settlement plan in Jerusalem, compelling the EU to issue the statement only on behalf of the EU’s High Representative Kaja Kallas. The statement was subsequently released by the EU’s External Actions Service and can be found here.
Malta has joined the list of EU-member signatories to the opposition against Israel’s E1 plan. Signatory countries include France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Spain, Austria, Greece, Cyprus and Finland. The EU is urging Israel to withdraw the plan, halt illegal settlement expansion and introduce accountability to violent settlers. The UK is also opposing the plan.
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, will travel to Slovenia in the first week of September. Slovenia’s new populist Prime Minister, Janez Janša, who was elected to office last May, has positioned his country’s foreign policy towards closer relations with Israel. Sa’ar’s visit is intended to further strengthen bilateral ties between Israel and Slovenia.
Slovenia has not issued a communication on the matter.
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