Gaza: Slovenia prohibits two far -right Israeli ministers, a strong gesture against the current genocide

It is a rare, daring and highly symbolic decision. Slovenia became the first country of the European Union on Thursday to prohibit entry into its territory to two far -right Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. In question: their “genocidal” remarks and their active role in incitement to “extreme violence” against the Palestinian people. Through this gesture, Ljubljana sends a clear and unambiguous message: those who call for the crushing of the Palestinians, justify ethnic cleaning and fuel colonization and apartheid policy do not have their place on European soil.

Ben Gvir, Minister of National Security, is known for his racist rhetoric and his support displayed to the most violent colonists. Smotrich, Minister of Finance, is distinguished by his calls to annex the West Bank and by his explicit negation of the right of the Palestinians to exist as a people. Both defend a deeply anchored supremacist ideology in the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. They are already sanctioned by several countries-Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Norway, New Zealand-but this is the first time as the EU state has been as far. “It is an unprecedented measure in the European Union,” said the head of Slovenian diplomacy, Tanja Fajon, who calls on his partners to no longer close their eyes.

This gesture is part of a broader position of Slovenia. Last May, its president, Natasa Pirc Musar, openly denounced “the current genocide in Gaza” before the European Parliament. A few weeks later, Ljubljana announced the official recognition of the state of Palestine. While the majority of European chancelleries continue to procrastinate, Slovenia shows moral and political coherence. Faced with a genocide perpetrated with impunity, each gesture counts.