Slovenia to ban import of goods produced in Israeli settlements
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Slovenia announces it will provide material aid, valued at up to 879,490 euros, to Palestinians affected by the war on Gaza.
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Members of the Slovenian Parliament leave the hall after their vote in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on June 4, 2024 (AP)
Slovenia has announced a ban on imports of goods produced in Israeli settlements and approved an additional aid package for Gaza, the government said in a statement.
“The government today banned the import of goods originating from settlements in the occupied territories, including a ban on circumventing the ban on these imports,” the statement on the government’s website reads.
The government also directed ministries to consider banning the export of Slovenian goods destined for Israeli settlements.
Prime Minister Robert Golob condemned "Israel’s" actions, including the construction of illegal settlements, expropriations, forced displacement of Palestinians, and the destruction of homes, calling them "serious and repeated violations of international humanitarian law,” as quoted by the STA news agency.
“These actions not only threaten the lives and dignity of the Palestinian population, but also the foundations of the international order," Golob added.
In addition, Slovenia announced it will provide material aid, such as food and blankets, valued at up to 879,490 euros, to Palestinians affected by the war on Gaza.
On June 6, 2024, the majority of the Slovenian Parliament voted to recognize the state of Palestine as an independent, sovereign state, a move mirroring actions taken by Spain, Ireland, and Norway at the time.
Two weeks prior, the government had declared Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich personae non gratae.
Slovenia bans import, export, transit of Israeli arms over war on Gaza
Slovenia announced its decision in late July to prohibit all weapons trade with "Israel" due to its ongoing war in Gaza, marking what the country described as the first such move by an EU nation.
In a statement, the Slovenian government said it adopted a decision banning the export and transit of military weapons and equipment from or through the Republic of Slovenia to “Israel", as well as imports from “Israel” into the Republic of Slovenia.
It added that "Slovenia is the first European country" to make such a decision of full ban, noting that it was taking this step unilaterally since the EU had not been "unable to adopt concrete measures" as Slovenia had previously urged.
Slovenia previously warned that it would take independent action, in coordination with like-minded countries, should the European Union fail to implement substantial measures within two weeks to tackle the escalating humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.
