{"id":109865,"date":"2025-08-01T09:13:17","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T09:13:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/109865\/"},"modified":"2025-08-01T09:13:17","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T09:13:17","slug":"in-eu-first-slovenia-announces-ban-on-all-weapons-trade-with-israel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/109865\/","title":{"rendered":"In EU first, Slovenia announces ban on all weapons trade with Israel"},"content":{"rendered":"

Slovenia announced on Thursday that it will ban all weapons trade with Israel over the war in Gaza, in what it said is a first by a European Union nation, as criticism of Israel over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to grow globally.<\/p>\n

\u201cSlovenia is the first European country to ban the import, export and transit of weapons to and from Israel,\u201d the government said in a statement, clarifying that it is moving ahead \u201cindependently\u201d because the EU is \u201cunable to adopt concrete measures\u2026 due to internal disagreements and disunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

In response, an unnamed Israeli official told Ynet: \u201cThere is no defense procurement from Slovenia. We don\u2019t buy so much as a pin from them. They simply decided on an embargo for the sake of the media, because they can, but it\u2019s completely meaningless.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Slovenian statement said that amid the devastating war in Gaza, where \u201cpeople\u2026 are dying because humanitarian aid is systematically denied them,\u201d it is the \u201cduty of every responsible state to take action, even if it means taking a step ahead of others.\u201d<\/p>\n

It added that the government has not issued any permits for the export of military weapons and equipment to Israel since October 2023 because of the conflict.<\/p>\n

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Slovenia\u2019s government has frequently criticized Israel over the conflict, and last year moved to recognize a Palestinian state<\/a> as part of efforts to end the fighting in Gaza as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

Early in July, Slovenia \u2014 also in an EU first \u2014 banned<\/a> two far-right Israeli ministers \u2014 Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir \u2014 from entering the country. It declared both Israelis \u201cpersona non grata,\u201d accusing them of inciting \u201cextreme violence and serious violations of the human rights of Palestinians\u201d with \u201ctheir genocidal statements.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Religious Zionism party chief Bezalel Smotrich (right) and Otzma Yehudit party chief Itamar Ben Gvir are seen during a vote at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on December 28, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi\/Flash90)<\/p>\n

German FM warns of isolation<\/p>\n

In a visit to Jerusalem, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned on Thursday that Israel is in danger of becoming diplomatically isolated amid the growing international outrage over the situation in Gaza, and that Berlin is trying to prevent that.<\/p>\n

\u201cIsrael must always find friends, partners, and supporters in the international community. And that is currently in danger in this situation. And if there is one country that has a responsibility to prevent this, then in my view it is Germany,\u201d Wadephul told reporters.<\/p>\n

Wadephul held meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar after landing in Israel on Thursday afternoon, and was slated to travel to the West Bank on Friday for additional discussions on the Gaza humanitarian situation amid widespread international moves toward recognizing a Palestinian state.<\/p>\n

Because of outrage over Israel\u2019s policies in Gaza, France, the United Kingdom and Canada announced<\/a> this week that they planned to recognize a Palestinian state. Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers said<\/a> on Thursday that it is a matter of time until Canberra follows suit.<\/p>\n

Wadephul has warned that while Berlin opposes unilaterally recognizing a Palestinian state, it may be forced to reconsider<\/a> if negotiations for a two-state solution are not renewed.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul poses for a photo with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa\u2019ar, ahead of a meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, on July 31, 2025 (Shlomi Amsalem\/GPO)<\/p>\n

Since the war between Israel and Hamas began, more than 60,000 people in the Strip have so far been killed or are presumed dead, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. The toll cannot be verified and does not differentiate between civilians and fighters. There are also an increasing number of reports on a looming famine in Gaza.<\/p>\n

The war began with Hamas\u2019s devastating October 7 attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians. More than 450 Israeli soldiers have subsequently been killed fighting in the Strip.<\/p>\n

In his meeting with Wadephul, Sa\u2019ar said that the global moves to recognize a Palestinian state have encouraged Hamas to harden its stance regarding a ceasefire and hostage-release deal.<\/p>\n

Addressing the stalled negotiations for a truce, Sa\u2019ar told Wadephul that Hamas \u201cis not interested in reaching a deal,\u201d according to a readout of the meeting from Sa\u2019ar\u2019s office.<\/p>\n

\u201cHamas is holding the hostages, refusing to disarm, and is entrenched in its rejectionist stance toward a hostage deal because it sees the international community rewarding it with prizes and gifts,\u201d Sa\u2019ar\u2019s office said in the readout.<\/p>\n

The two ministers held a private discussion followed by an expanded meeting with representatives from both sides, according to the readout.<\/p>\n

Sa\u2019ar also emphasized Israel\u2019s opposition to recognizing a Palestinian state, telling Wadephul that \u201cWe don\u2019t call these areas \u2018the West Bank,\u2019 we call them \u2018Judea and Samaria,’\u201d referring to the Biblical term for the territory.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe that Jews have the right to live in the heart of their historic homeland \u2014 including in Judea and Samaria,\u201d Sa\u2019ar told his counterpart, while also accusing the Palestinian Authority of inciting hatred against Israel through its education system and media activities, and of providing financial support to terrorists.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the PA were to gain control over the borders and airspace,\u201d Sa\u2019ar cautioned, \u201cwe would find ourselves flooded with Iranian weapons inside Israel. That will not happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sa\u2019ar also referred to \u201cillegal Palestinian construction in Area C,\u201d saying that turning a blind eye to it is \u201chypocrisy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Palestinians living in towns and villages in Area C, which is under full Israeli civil and military control and makes up 60 percent of the West Bank, can rarely receive building permits. As a result, the construction they do in the area is often done illegally. Organizations behind the settlement movement reject these building efforts, seeing them as part of an effort to take full control of the area.<\/p>\n

A Palestinian state cannot be established \u201cfor the simple reason that Israel cannot compromise on its security,\u201d Sa\u2019ar concluded, according to his office.<\/p>\n


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