Slovenia becomes first EU country to ban weapons trade with Israel

Slovenia will be “the first European country” to ban weapons trade with Israel in response to Tel Aviv’s actions in Gaza, Prime Minister Robert Golob told the country’s Press Agency (STA) on Friday.

“At the initiative of Prime Minister Dr. Robert Golob, the government today adopted a decision prohibiting the export and transit of military weapons and equipment from or through the Republic of Slovenia to Israel, as well as the import of such goods from Israel into the Republic of Slovenia,” according to a statement cited by STA and published on the Slovenian government’s webpage.

The statement added that Golob’s decision stems from his promise to “act independently” against Israel if the EU “failed to adopt concrete measures by mid-July”.

“Due to internal disagreements and lack of unity, the European Union is currently unable to fulfil this task,” the statement said.

EU member states have now repeatedly failed to rally enough support to respond to Israel’s ongoing actions in Gaza. Despite a review of the EU-Israel association agreement which revealed that the country’s actions in Gaza were violating human rights, the EU 27 couldn’t agree on any of the 10 sanctions proposed to them, including a partial suspension of Israel's access to the EU's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.

An embargo on arms to Israel was never tabled among options for action at EU level. United Nations and EU rules state that human rights violations and war crimes should give rise to arms sales embargoes. In addition, following the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Italy, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands have already halted or restricted exports. 

Israel imports almost 70% of its arsenal from the US, the world’s largest arms exporter but Germany is Israel’s second supplier. Since 7 October 2023, it has exported €485 millions' worth of weapons. Italy ranks third, supplying less than 1%. 

Slovenia has been one of the most vocal EU countries calling for EU action against Israel. The country recognised a Palestinian state in June last year and has since repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Gaza and increased aid deliveries to the enclave.

It has also declared two far-right Israeli ministers, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich as personae non grata.