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Slovenia’s government declared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu persona non grata on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, effectively banning him from entering the country.
The unprecedented step marks the first time a European Union member state has imposed such a sanction on an Israeli head of government.
Neva Grasic, state secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, told public broadcaster RTV Slovenija that the decision was tied to ongoing international legal proceedings.
“The public is aware that proceedings for war crimes and crimes against humanity have been initiated against Netanyahu,” Grasic said.
She also pointed to United Nations findings that characterized Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide.
A government statement on X, formerly Twitter, said the move underlines Slovenia’s commitment to “international law, human rights and a consistent foreign policy.”
The decision comes after a series of escalating steps by Slovenia in recent months.
In July 2025, the government barred far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country.
A month later, it imposed an arms embargo on Israel and banned imports of goods produced in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Slovenia also formally recognized the state of Palestine in 2024, aligning itself with a growing bloc of European countries critical of Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
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