Minister Fajon calls for dialogue in Jerusalem and Ramallah and for Israel not to attack Rafah

SLOVENIA, May 5 - In Jerusalem, Minister Fajon met with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz and had a telephone conversation with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. In Ramallah, she met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Mustafa.

Minister Fajon called on all her hosts to engage in dialogue, to agree on a ceasefire and a lasting peace: 'People on the streets in Slovenia, in Israel and around the world are calling for peace. I urged the highest representatives of Israel and Palestine to do everything in their power to bring about a ceasefire as soon as possible. Weapons must be replaced by dialogue."

"An agreement reached in Cairo would be an encouraging first step, but the ultimate goal is a lasting two-state solution, a peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians - which first and foremost requires willingness and readiness on both sides to reach an agreement and to build a sufficient level of mutual trust," Minister Fajon told her counterparts on both sides. She stressed that Slovenia would continue its efforts, both within the EU and in the Security Council, aimed at achieving peaceful coexistence between Palestinians and Israelis. "This is a reminder to all of us that we need to talk and keep the path of dialogue open, as only this can lead to the ultimate goal: security for Israel and a state for Palestine. An independent Palestinian state is not incompatible with peace efforts or a peace conference. Recognition of Palestine will not endanger the existence and security of Israelis. On the contrary. It will ensure the security and peaceful coexistence of Israelis and Palestinians side by side," said Minister Fajon.

"The recognition of Palestine is no longer an issue for Slovenia. Since there is neither a ceasefire nor serious efforts to achieve a lasting peace, the time for recognising Palestine is drawing ever closer. It is becoming a reality. This is an important step towards peace and it is only a question of when, not if," she added, presenting to her hosts Slovenia's position aimed at finding a lasting solution for the peaceful coexistence of the two peoples. In her talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the Minister stressed the need to continue reform efforts and to empower the Palestinian authorities to take control of Gaza.

Slovenia's commitments and principles are clear: "We have always stood for the principles of international law, international humanitarian law and human rights law," she added.

Minister Tanja Fajon urged her Israeli counterparts to abandon their plan to attack Rafah. We have a moral responsibility to protect civilians. There can be no justification for the children killed, starved or missing. Nor can we allow the attack on Rafah to go ahead and the Palestinians to be expelled from Gaza. There are also Israeli hostages there, and an attack on Rafah would endanger their innocent lives," Minister Fajon stressed.

The Minister visited Israel and Palestine on the eve of Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day. She laid a wreath and paid tribute to the victims of the Holocaust at Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem. She wrote in the guest book: "Never again. We will continue to fight anti-Semitism because history must not be allowed to repeat itself. We reject hatred and we stand for peace." She also conveyed to her Israeli counterparts Slovenia's commitment to continue to take decisive steps against anti-Semitism. In this context, the Slovenian Strategy on Combating anti-Semitism was adopted in December 2023.

"Slovenia strongly condemns all violence and terror against innocent civilians. It is also firmly opposed to the escalation of violence on the basis of religion. There is no place for anti-Semitism, Islamophobia or other forms of intolerance in democracies and tolerant societies," said Minister Fajon.