Slovenia’s ‘ethical responsibility’: What’s behind its push to recognise Palestine? | Israel-Palestine battle Information

Slovenia is ready to recognise Palestinian statehood in June, following within the footsteps of Eire, Norway, and Spain.

However Israel’s conflict on Gaza continues to divide European Union members. On one finish of the spectrum, international locations akin to Germany, Hungary, and the Netherlands staunchly help Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s authorities. On the opposite, these like Slovenia, which have strongly criticised Israel’s navy conduct, are calling on the worldwide group to Israeli leaders accountable.

Whereas condemning each Hamas and Israel, Ljubljana has constantly advocated for a everlasting ceasefire in Gaza, the removing of restrictions on humanitarian entry, and daring steps towards a two-state answer.

In October 2023, Slovenia joined Belgium, France, Eire, Luxembourg, and Spain in voting for a direct ceasefire on the UN Common Meeting.

When Israeli officers accused the United Nations Aid and Works Company for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) of allowing Hamas to infiltrate the physique, which resulted in the USA and different Western governments chopping off help to the company, Slovenia not solely continued funding it, but additionally elevated contributions.

Earlier than the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice, Slovenia has participated within the South African genocide case.

Final month, in its capability as a non-permanent member of the UN Safety Council, Slovenia voted in favour of a draft decision to grant the State of Palestine full-fledged UN membership.

And earlier this month, Slovenia voted for a decision calling for Palestine’s full UN membership, which the UN Common Meeting handed overwhelmingly.

International Minister Tanja Fajon has framed the popularity of Palestine’s statehood as a “ethical responsibility”.

“Slovenia is neither pro-Israel nor pro-Palestinian, we perceive and sympathise with individuals on either side,” Eva Tomic, local weather coverage and human rights adviser to the president of Slovenia, instructed Al Jazeera.

“Individuals on either side should dwell side-by-side in peace and safety and the position of the worldwide group is to assist them obtain that.”

She defined that as a comparatively small state, Slovenia is a “agency believer” within the deserves of the multilateral cooperation.

“We aren’t burdened with any historic colonial previous, we take heed to different components of the world.

“The Israeli-Palestinian battle is without doubt one of the oldest and most tough, however for the primary time in lots of many years, the world public opinion is shifting. College students in Slovenia are protesting for justice and peace there, too,” she added.

Bostjan Videmsek, an award-winning overseas correspondent and conflict reporter for DELO, a Slovenian each day newspaper, doesn’t consider that Slovenia is essentially a number one advocate for the Palestinians throughout the EU.

“It’s simply the truth that an enormous a part of the EU, specifically Germany, is standing on the mistaken facet of historical past [again], and there’s a lack of political braveness in another international locations, together with the European Fee,” he instructed Al Jazeera. “What Slovenia is supporting are the fundamentals of the fundamentals. No extra, no much less.”

Having lengthy been inclined to help the rights of others to self-determination, together with the Palestinians, Slovenia’s overseas coverage is centred on respecting worldwide regulation and multilateral coordination.

In observe, this implies defending small states from extra highly effective actors and international locations.

“With out worldwide regulation in worldwide relations, there could be a lawless ‘jungle’ through which bigger states could be free to impose their will on smaller states,” stated Primoz Sterbenc, an assistant professor on the College of Primorska in Koper, Slovenia, instructed Al Jazeera. “As Israel has ever since 1967 repeatedly and flagrantly breached worldwide regulation … within the [occupied Palestinian territories], thereby destroying the potential of institution of a sovereign and viable Palestinian state, Slovenia has been in some way obliged to be crucial of Israel.”

Leaders of the nations recognising Palestinian statehood for the primary time argue it’s a vital step in the direction of a two-state answer.

“Any future negotiations on all of the remaining problems with the Israeli-Palestinian battle must be resolved between the 2 states and never between the occupying power and the occupied as is the case now,” stated Tomic.

Slovenia’s embassy within the US, in an announcement to Al Jazeera, stated, “Our plan makes it clear that the Palestinians have the suitable to self-determination, statehood and survival … The rigorous respect for worldwide regulation can put an finish to the unacceptable and untenable scenario within the Center East”.

‘It’s simple for Slovenians to really feel empathy’

Slovenia’s historical past is related to Ljubljana’s overseas coverage relating to Palestine; its stance on statehood may very well be partly defined throughout the context of Josip Broz Tito’s position as a pacesetter within the Non-Aligned Motion and Yugoslavia’s place in the direction of the battle.

The collapse of Yugoslavia within the early Nineties amid the 10-day conflict in 1991 has knowledgeable some Slovenians’ views on Palestine.

“Most Slovenians can nonetheless bear in mind the 1991 conflict of independence in opposition to a a lot larger and far stronger Yugoslav military,” stated Novica Mihajlovic, a journalist and editor at DELO. “It’s simple for Slovenians to really feel empathy in the direction of any facet in any worldwide battle that’s being attacked by a stronger and greater opponent.”

Previous to independence in 1991, Slovenia was beneath the rule of different states and a part of bigger federative states.

Slovenia’s resolution to achieve statehood stemmed from its “personal civic quest for democracy and human rights”, stated Tomic. “The realisation of our personal proper to self-determination determines our stance to not deny this proper to others. This helps clarify Slovenia’s stance within the UN and within the EU on the human rights scenario in Palestine.”

Slovenia’s transfer has been welcomed by a number of nations of the World South – a time period that means Latin America, Africa and far of Asia.

“I sincerely hope this horrible conflict in Gaza will serve to deepen our sense of humanity no matter through which a part of the world we dwell in,” stated Tomic. “All individuals, no matter our ethnicity, race, or descent, deserve the identical human rights and I consider that is the gist of our shared understanding with each the Arab world and the World South: Human rights can’t be a privilege of the well-off West or North solely.”

As extra international locations recognise Palestinian statehood, nevertheless, many observers are questioning whether or not the push will have an impact.

Sterbenc warned that recognition may very well be “counter-productive”, saying it may create a “misunderstanding” of justice with out altering the truth on the bottom.

The Slovenian educational stated recognising Palestine may threat creating circumstances whereby EU members evade their obligations beneath worldwide regulation. He stated that the bloc should go additional and start imposing financial sanctions on Israel on the EU stage.

“The EU ought to rethink its conventional observe of funding the Palestinian Authority … since this observe has solely taken away the monetary burden from Israel which this state ought to carry, because the occupying energy,” Sterbenc instructed Al Jazeera.