Slovenia becomes the first EU nation to impose sanctions on Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, citing incitement to violence, ethnic cleansing, and defiance of international law.
In a landmark move, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia announced Thursday that it has adopted a formal sanctions policy targeting Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, citing their alleged role in promoting violence and human rights abuses against Palestinians.
According to the official Slovenian statement, both ministers are accused of issuing “genocidal statements” and supporting actions that incite extreme violence and systematic human rights violations. The government pointed to their public endorsements of settlement expansion in Judea and Samaria, forced displacement of Palestinians, and calls for violence against civilians.
Slovenia further condemned the ministers’ rhetoric and policies, stating they “encourage ethnic cleansing in both the West Bank and Gaza.” The government emphasized that such conduct violates the spirit and principles of the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion issued in July 2024, which examined Israeli practices in the Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.
As part of its response, Slovenia has declared both Ben-Gvir and Smotrich persona non grata, effectively banning them from entering the country. This makes Slovenia the first European Union member state to formally enact such sanctions against sitting Israeli ministers.
The move comes just weeks after a broader coalition of Western nations—including the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Norway—announced similar sanctions. The UK Foreign Office said its measures were part of a wider campaign to curb extremist settler violence and address policies undermining the prospects for a two-state solution.
The UK’s sanctions specifically target Ben-Gvir and Smotrich in their personal capacities, placing them under asset freezes, travel bans, and barring them from serving as company directors within British jurisdiction.
Ben-Gvir currently serves as Israel’s Minister of National Security, while Smotrich holds dual roles as Minister of Finance and a minister within the Defense Ministry.
These coordinated international sanctions mark an intensification of diplomatic pressure on Israel’s far-right leadership amid growing global concern over policies in the West Bank and Gaza.
