Slovenia has become the first EU nation to ban Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, citing their inflammatory statements as incitements to violence against Palestinians. The decision, met with both support and accusations of bias, highlights tensions over Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas.
Slovenia announced a historic decision to bar Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir from entering its territory, marking the first such move by a European Union member state.
The Slovenian government declared both ministers “persona non grata,” accusing them of inciting “extreme violence and serious violations of the human rights of Palestinians” through what authorities described as “their genocidal statements.” Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon, speaking after a cabinet session, emphasized the decision’s intent to pressure Israel to end its military operationsin Gaza, where 888 Israelis have died since the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre that killed 1,200 and took 251 hostages.
The move follows international criticism of Smotrich and Ben Gvir, key figures in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, known for their far-right views. In June 2025, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway imposed sanctions on the ministers for inflammatory remarks, including Smotrich’s call to “wipe out” Palestinian villages and Ben Gvir’s advocacy for cutting humanitarian aid to Gaza during wartime. (Read more)
