Slovenia bars far-right Israeli ministers for ‘genocidal statements'
Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon declared the pair personae non gratae on Thursday in what she said was a first for a European Union country.
'We are breaking new ground,' she said.
In a statement, the Slovenian government accused Israel's National Security Minister Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Smotrich of inciting 'extreme violence and serious violations of the human rights of Palestinians' with 'their genocidal statements'.
It also noted that both cabinet ministers 'publicly advocate the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the forced evictions of Palestinians, and call for violence against the civilian Palestinian population'.
There was no immediate reaction from Israel's government.
Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, key coalition partners in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, have drawn international criticism for their hard-line stance on the Gaza war and on illegal settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.
Smotrich, who lives in a West Bank settlement, has supported the expansion of settlements and has called for the territory's annexation.
Settlements are illegal under international law. Last July, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel's continued presence in occupied Palestinian territory was unlawful, a decision Israel has ignored.
Smotrich has previously called for 'total annihilation' in Gaza and said that a Palestinian town in the West Bank should be 'wiped out'. Ben-Gvir was an open admirer of Baruch Goldstein, an Israeli who massacred 29 Palestinians as they prayed in Hebron in 1994. He has been convicted multiple times by Israeli courts for 'incitement to racism'.
Despite the ministers' positions, Netanyahu relies heavily on support from the two and from their factions in parliament for the survival of his government.
On May 21, Slovenia's President Natasa Pirc Musar told the European Parliament that the EU needed to take stronger action against Israel, condemning 'the genocide' in Gaza.
Fajon said Slovenia had decided to make the move after EU foreign ministers did not agree on joint action against Israel over charges of human rights violations at a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday.
She said other measures were being prepared, without going into detail.
In June, Britain, Norway, Australia, New Zealand and Canada imposed sanctions on the two Israeli ministers, accusing them of inciting violence against Palestinians.
Last year, Slovenia announced it was recognising a Palestinian state, following on the heels of Norway, Spain, and the Republic of Ireland.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Al Jazeera
‘Horrors upon horrors': How US Congress responded to mass hunger in Gaza
Washington, DC – The images of emaciated children coming out of Gaza have moved some of Israel's staunchest supporters in the United States Congress to decry the humanitarian situation in the besieged Palestinian territory ravaged by Israeli-imposed starvation. Some Democratic lawmakers pointedly condemned Israel over the past few days, slamming the US and Israeli-backed GHF food distribution mechanism that has led to the killing of more than 1,000 Palestinian aid seekers. But others issued vague statements calling for aid to enter Gaza without directly blaming Israeli policies. 'This is the reality: Having already killed or wounded 200,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, the extremist Israeli government is using mass starvation to engineer the ethnic cleansing of Gaza,' progressive Senator Bernie Sanders said in a statement late on Friday. He accused the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of carrying out an 'extermination' campaign in Gaza. The anger threatens to shake the strong bipartisan support that Israel has enjoyed for decades in Congress, which authorises the billions in military aid that the staunch US ally receives from Washington annually. But so far, there does not appear to be a significant push to impose actual consequences on the Israeli government for its forced mass hunger campaign in Gaza. Just last week, the US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to approve $500m in missile defence support to Israel. 'This cannot continue' On Saturday, Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen hit out at Netanyahu and US President Trump for replacing humanitarian aid groups in Gaza 'with mercenaries – leading to more death and devastation'. 'Every day, the horrors in Gaza reach new, unimaginable depths,' Van Hollen wrote in a social media post. The Trump administration has been talking up US support for the GHF operation – which the United Nations and rights groups have described as a 'death trap' and 'human slaughterhouses' – and falsely blaming Hamas for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. 'This cannot continue,' Van Hollen said. Congressman John Garamendi suggested that Israel's 'dangerous and wilful failure to enable humanitarian aid' in Gaza amounts to genocide. Only a handful of progressive congressmembers have accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, of an effort to destroy the Palestinian people. But leading rights groups and UN experts have concluded that the Israeli military campaign is genocidal. 'Israel has the ability and the means to deliver adequate food to the Palestinians,' Garamendi said in a statement. 'They also have the obligation under international law to deliver it; it's the choice of Prime Minister Netanyahu not to feed Gaza.' It must end. My statement on the starvation crisis in Gaza. — John Garamendi (@RepGaramendi) July 26, 2025 Numerous Israeli officials have publicly said that they aim to cut off aid to Gaza and force all Palestinians to leave the territory, effectively promoting ethic cleansing. Many have suggested that there are no innocent people in the enclave. Earlier this week, Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu appeared to confirm that his country is purposely starving Gaza, saying that 'there is no nation that feeds its enemies.' 'The government is racing ahead for Gaza to be wiped out,' Eliyahu said in a radio interview, according to The Times of Israel. According to Gaza's health authorities, at least 127 Palestinians have died of malnutrition in the enclave, including five on Saturday. On Thursday, Congressman Wesley Bell – who was backed with millions of dollars from pro-Israel groups last year to defeat former Congresswoman Cori Bush, a leading critic of Israeli policies – spoke out against Israel's actions. 'I've always supported Israel's right to exist and defend itself. That hasn't changed,' Bell said in a social media post. 'But supporting this government's actions – allowing children to starve and firing on civilians seeking food – is something I can't stand by. This isn't self-defense. It must stop.' Congresswoman Summer Lee also said on Friday that Israel is blocking humanitarian assistance to Gaza while shooting at aid seekers looking to receive food from GHF sites. 'People are collapsing in the streets from extreme starvation. Horrors upon horrors,' Lee said in a social media post. 'The US must stop funding Israel's manufactured famine and genocide.' Vague statements Not all US lawmakers who spoke on the issue were as forceful as Lee when addressing the crisis. Many failed to point the finger at Israel, while others prefaced their mild criticism of the US ally with customary condemnation of Hamas. Several congressmembers reiterated the Israeli lie that Hamas steals UN humanitarian aid – a claim that has been denied by UN agencies and aid groups on the ground, and for which the Israeli military officials acknowledge they have no evidence. Congresswoman Grace Meng said in a statement that 'as a mother', her heart breaks to see children in Gaza starve, but she proceeded to repeat pro-Israel talking points about the humanitarian situation. 'It is important to recognize that Israel has facilitated the entry of over 1.8 million tons and over 96,000 trucks into Gaza, while Hamas continues to hold hostages, extort the aid system, and refuse ceasefire deals to stay in power and prolong the war,' Meng said in a statement. My full statement on the humanitarian crisis and the urgent need for peace in Gaza👇 — Grace Meng (@RepGraceMeng) July 25, 2025 Throughout more than 22 months of war, Israel has allowed a trickle of aid to enter Gaza – but far below the needs of the population. And since March, Israel has tightened its blockade on the territory, making the deadly GHF sites nearly the only source of food for Palestinians. Hamas also denies rejecting ceasefire deals. Instead, the group says it is seeking a permanent end to the war, while several Israeli officials have said that Israel will proceed with its military campaign in Gaza even if a short-term truce is reached. Congressman Adam Smith called on Israel to take the 'steps necessary to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe' in Gaza, but he focused his criticism on Hamas, echoing unfounded Israeli arguments about the group blocking ceasefire deals and stealing the aid. 'I believe we can both continue to support Israel in their effort to defend themselves against Hamas, Iran and others in the region who continue in their efforts to attack and destroy Israel, and work immediately to relieve the suffering of the people in Gaza,' Smith said in a statement. Similarly, Senator Cory Booker released a 172-word statement on the starvation crisis in Gaza that mentioned the word 'Israel' only once – in calling for a strategy to 'strengthen Israel's security.' 'It is our collective moral duty to ensure that humanitarian relief reaches those who need it most urgently,' Booker said in a statement. Criticising Trump At the same time, some Democrats invoked the crisis to rebuke Trump – their political rival – without denouncing Israel. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries set the tone for that approach with a statement late on Friday that focused on Trump but failed to explicitly criticise Israel. 'The starvation and death of Palestinian children and civilians in an ongoing war zone is unacceptable,' Jeffries said. 'The Trump administration has the ability to bring an end to this humanitarian crisis. They must act now.' Statement on the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza. — Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) July 26, 2025 For his part, Congressman Tim Kennedy underscored that Trump has failed to deliver his promise of ending the war on Gaza. 'His strategic and moral failure has led to deteriorating conditions, with new reports and images of mass starvation of Palestinians,' Kennedy said in a statement. Trump's Republican Party has been largely silent about the worsening hunger in Gaza. But Congressman Randy Fine – a close ally of the US president – appeared to at once endorse Israel's starvation campaign in Gaza while dismissing it as 'Muslim terror propaganda'. 'Release the hostages,' he wrote in a social media post earlier this week. 'Until then, starve away.'
Al Jazeera
2 days ago
- Al Jazeera
Players' union hits back at ‘autocratic' FIFA and Infantino
The global football players' union has hit back at FIFA and its President Gianni Infantino, saying their autocratic style of leadership was harming the rights of its members. 'Football needs responsible leadership, not emperors,' the FIFPRO network said on Friday after a meeting of 58 national player unions responded to FIFA pursuing its agenda with unofficial player representatives. 'It needs fewer autocratic monologues and more genuine, inclusive and transparent dialogue,' the union added. FIFA announced two weeks ago that it reached a consensus on key issues after Infantino hosted a group of mostly non-recognised officials in New York before the Club World Cup final. The latest rift between soccer's governing body and its players' unions flared while the European Commission in Brussels is considering a formal complaint against FIFA. It was filed by FIFPRO's European division and national leagues in Europe against FIFA's style of governance and decision-making. FIFPRO said FIFA's core agenda included an overloaded global match calendar with too many games for elite players, a lack of physical and mental recovery periods and extreme playing conditions. Players at the monthlong Club World Cup in the United States, who played in the heat of daytime games to appeal to worldwide TV audiences, reported feeling dizzy and unwell. The 63-game tournament backed by Saudi Arabian money was lucrative for clubs, especially in Europe, though FIFA added it to the schedule without formally consulting players. The tournament, FIFPRO said, was 'celebrated by President Infantino despite being held under conditions that were extreme and inappropriate for any human being, demonstrating a troubling insensitivity to human rights, even when it concerns elite athletes. 'FIFPRO reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to protecting the rights of men and women players – rights which are being seriously undermined by commercial policies imposed by its autocratic system of governance,' the Netherlands-based union said of FIFA. 'This is a model that puts the health of players at risk and sidelines those at the heart of the game,' FIFPRO said, adding it was 'unacceptable for an organization that claims global leadership to turn a blind eye to the basic needs of the players'. FIFA was approached for comment. FIFPRO has not had a formal working agreement with FIFA since the previous one expired in 2023.
Al Jazeera
2 days ago
- Al Jazeera
Fact check: Did US go from ice cream trade surplus to deficit under Biden?
President Donald Trump's administration dished out a cold burn to Trump's ice-cream-loving predecessor, Joe Biden, saying he led the US ice cream industry down an economic rocky road. 'America had a trade surplus in ice cream in 2020 under President Trump's leadership, but that surplus turned into a trade deficit of $40.6 million under President Biden's watch,' the Office of the US Trade Representative wrote July 20 on X. The post included a chart that shows the US ice cream trade deficit with Japan, South Africa, the European Union, Brazil, Canada and Turkiye. The US ice cream trade balance did change dramatically in 2021, the year Biden took office. The trade balance officially flipped negative – which means imports outnumber exports – in 2022 and has remained so since then. But industry experts caution that US ice cream imports account for a minuscule fraction of all the US ice cream consumed in the US, and exports account for a tiny fraction of all US ice cream produced. The trade change was driven mostly by a jump in imports. Exports have remained largely unchanged since 2020. And the cherry on top? Disagreement over which products to classify as 'ice cream' also affects data, experts say. For example, the data referenced by the office of the US Trade Representative also includes 'edible ice', which some experts (and dairy defenders) say doesn't qualify as ice cream. Removing edible ice shows that 'the US is a net exporter by a significant margin of ($193 million) or +85% larger by value,' International Dairy Foods Association Executive Vice President Matt Herrick told PolitiFact via email. Ice cream imports increase causes US trade deficit From 1995 to 2020, the US had an ice cream trade surplus, ranging from about $20m to about $160m, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, an online economic data platform. Longtime customers include Mexico, followed by Saudi Arabia and Canada. In 2021, that surplus nearly vanished, and in 2022 and 2023, the US notched up an ice cream trade deficit of $92m and $33m, respectively. At first glance, importing frozen foods doesn't seem practical. 'Shipping refrigerated and frozen products overseas is expensive,' dairy economist Betty Berningat of HighGround Dairy said. 'Mexico is the top destination for US dairy exports.' But many US and European companies have tapped into global markets. 'Consumers may also want a specific treat that is styled after or known to be from another country,' Herrick said. Italy, the birthplace of gelato, is now the United States' largest single source of imported ice cream. Italian ice cream imports more than quintupled from about $12m to almost $65m between 2020 and 2021 alone, before decreasing somewhat in 2023, the last year for which data is available. Some of this stems from increased consumer demand for specialty pints. A report by Mordor Intelligence, a global market research firm, said 'product innovation and premiumisation' have become key in the US ice cream industry. 'This trend is particularly evident in the growth of premium pint offerings and individually wrapped novelties that cater to both indulgence and portion control preferences,' the report said. The US produces far more ice cream than it imports or exports To get to the pint: The vast majority of ice cream consumed in the United States is made there, not overseas. The Trump administration is cherry-picking stats from a fraction of a sliver of the US ice cream industry. According to US Agriculture Department data, US ice cream makers churned out 1.31 billion gallons of ice cream in 2024. This includes regular ice cream, low-fat and nonfat ice cream, sherbet and frozen yoghurt. By comparison, the US imported 2.35 million gallons of traditional ice cream in 2024 – that's 0.18 percent of the amount produced domestically, Herrick said. The US exported 16.4 million gallons of that domestic production, which is also a tiny fraction of 1.31 billion gallons of ice cream – a little more than 1 percent. Factoring in ice cream mixes, excluding 'edible ice' products Another caveat about the international trade data: It does not include 'mixes', which skews the totals, said Herrick of the International Dairy Foods Association. Mixes are used to make ice cream shakes and soft-serve products, and they account for a significant portion of US ice cream exports. 'Inclusion of such data points would change the picture quite significantly,' said Herrick. 'While it is true that traditional ice cream and edible ice exports have seen decreased exports, the same cannot be said for exports of mixes.' US milk-based drink exports increased 621 percent over the past five years, he said. In 2024, the US exported nearly $35m in mixes to the European Union. Americans and dairy-based ice cream: A centuries-old love affair melting away? The White House has churned out plenty of ice cream devotees. George Washington stocked the capital with ice cream-making equipment. Thomas Jefferson is credited as being the first American to record an ice cream recipe. Ronald Reagan declared July National Ice Cream Month in 1984. Barack Obama even slung scoops back in the day. Biden, who was often sighted with a cone in hand, proclaimed while visiting Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream headquarters in 2016: 'My name is Joe Biden, and I love ice cream.' But consumption of regular dairy ice cream – a category that does not include frozen yoghurt, sherbet or nonfat and low-fat ice creams – has been trending down for years. In 1975, Americans ate an average of 18.2 pounds each of ice cream per year. That figure fell to 11.7 pounds by 2023. Our ruling The office of the US Trade Representative purported a summertime scoop: 'America had a trade surplus in ice cream in 2020 under President Trump's leadership, but that surplus turned into a trade deficit of $40.6 million under President Biden's watch.' It's accurate that the US ice cream trade balance had a surplus for a quarter of a century before turning negative while Biden was president. But the US Trade Representative's statement makes the US ice cream deficit appear out of cone-trol. There are three scoops of context on this trade sundae: The change was driven mostly by a jump in imports. Exports have remained largely unchanged since 2020. US ice cream imports and exports are a negligible amount compared to domestic production. There's also disagreement over which products should or shouldn't be included in the data set, which can skew trend interpretations. Excluding edible ice products and factoring in ice cream mixes leaves the US with a surplus. The statement is accurate but needs a sprinkling of clarification and additional details, so we rate it Mostly True. Louis Jacobson contributed to this report.
