Slovenian air authorities prevent Israeli commercial flight from landing, forcing the plane to divert to a neighboring country.
By World Israel News Staff
An Israeli commercial flight bound for Slovenia was diverted to Croatia on Wednesday after Slovenian authorities refused to allow the Israeli aircraft to land in Ljubljana, the airline said, escalating a growing dispute over Israeli aviation access to the country.
The Israir flight, which had been scheduled to land in the Slovenian capital, instead landed in Zagreb after the aircraft was denied the required landing approval.
The airline said the decision was politically motivated and violated European aviation agreements.
“The Israir flight scheduled for Ljubljana had to land in Zagreb because the authorities in Ljubljana are refusing Israeli carriers to land, due to their firm political opposition to the route operated by the Israeli government,” Israir CEO Uri Sirkis said. “This is a blatant violation of EU air agreements.”
Israeli officials said the Foreign Ministry and Civil Aviation Authority were involved in efforts to resolve the matter, but the flight was not cleared to continue to Ljubljana.
Transportation Minister Miri Regev denounced the move, calling it a political decision that harmed Israeli citizens.
“This is an improper political decision that directly harms the citizens of Israel,” Regev said. “Anyone who tries to boycott Israel through aviation should understand that there will be consequences. Israel will not stand idly by and will use all the tools at its disposal to protect its airlines and the freedom of movement of its citizens.”
The incident comes after months of friction between Israel and Slovenia over the Ljubljana route.
Slovenia’s outgoing government has been among the most critical of Israel in the European Union, and previously reviewed Israir’s flight permit amid pressure from coalition partners and nongovernmental groups opposed to the service.
Last year, Slovenia’s Infrastructure Ministry said Israir’s permit had been renewed in accordance with existing law and that there was no legal basis at the time to deny the airline permission to operate if it met aviation safety and security requirements.
But Slovenia later revoked a 2003 decision that had allowed Israeli security officers to carry firearms at Ljubljana airport during operations by Israeli carriers.
Israeli airlines generally require armed security arrangements at foreign airports as part of their operating procedures.
The Slovenian government said at the time that the move was part of a broader review of weapons and security protocols, citing what it described as “serious and flagrant violations of international law, humanitarian law and human rights” by Israel.
The decision placed Israir’s Slovenia operations in doubt because Israeli airlines typically do not fly to destinations where required security arrangements are not approved.
Slovenia has taken a series of diplomatic steps against Israel since the start of the war in Gaza.
It recognized a Palestinian state in 2024, barred Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country, imposed an arms embargo on Israel and later banned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from entry, citing the International Criminal Court warrant against him.
The flight diversion occurred during a period of political transition in Slovenia. The outgoing government has pursued a strongly critical line toward Israel, while the incoming government is expected to take a friendlier approach.
