The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel condemned the decision of the government of Slovenia to recognize Palestine as an independent state, reported Reuters and BTA.
The decision of the government in Ljubljana must be approved by the country's parliament to officially enter into force.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the decision rewards “Hamas” for murder and rape. This is a reference to the Palestinian Islamist group's attack on Israel on October 7, which sparked the Gaza war.
The decision harms the “close friendship between the Slovenian and Israeli people” and strengthens Iran, Katz said.
„I hope the Slovenian parliament rejects this recommendation”, he added.
Twelve out of a total of 27 member states of the European Union recognize the State of Palestine. Eight of them - Malta, Cyprus, the Czech Republic and Slovakia (until 1993 Czechoslovakia), Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Poland - did so before joining the bloc, even after Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat declared on 15 November 1988 Palestine for an independent state. They were followed in 2014 by Sweden, which became the first country to recognize Palestine after joining the EU. On May 28, these countries were joined by Spain, Norway and Ireland, which officially recognized Palestine.