Statement by H.E. Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, at the High-level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution

I thank the co-chairs of the conference and of the working groups.

Your Excellencies,

Irrelevant of the perspective one has about Middle East conflict today, we all share one conviction: we are at a historical point.

How peace in the Middle East will be pursued is what will define the history our generations write. History is rarely about big words. History is about action or lack of it. The halls of this Organization have observed both and our nations have shared experiences of those consequences. Suffering or prosperity, justice or inequality, grievance or accountability.

When writing history of our generation, Slovenia decided to use the ink of action. Let me name just a few:

Together with Ireland, Norway and Spain, Slovenia recognized the State of Palestine last year and established diplomatic ties shortly after.

Together with Jordan and Kuwait we launched an initiative supporting UNRWA through shared commitments which enjoys support of over 120 signatories to this day. We continue to strengthen partnership with the Agency.

We acted upon the mandate entrusted to us as the Security Council member, pushing for action in the Council and supporting membership of Palestine in the United Nations.

We participated in proceedings for advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice and supported action in the General Assembly.

We were among the first countries recently to respond to settler violence by adopting sanctions against two Israeli ministers.

We have supported any well intended other initiative along the way, including the US – Egypt – Qatar led mediation efforts.

But our efforts cannot and will not end there.

I am looking forward to signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Palestine to pave the way for strengthened cooperation. Palestinian ownership is central to the two-state solution.

We continue valuing dialogue also with Israel, with the region and the civil society. Our door is always open to build trust.

Your Excellencies,

We are heartbroken by the devastation and immense suffering of civilians in Gaza. The months-long Israeli blockade of humanitarian aid has resulted in famine spreading across Gaza. Children are suffering the most. We take note of recent temporary measures which are long overdue and definitely not enough. We are appalled by dangerous trajectories in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. We resolutely stand against terrorism and strongly condemn Hamas’s barbaric attack of October 7.

We do not need a new blueprint to reverse the course of history, as we already have it. We have international law and Slovenia calls for its full respect. This includes the decisions of the ICJ, both Advisory Opinion on occupation as well as provisional measures on Gaza. And I feel compelled to underline that this includes accountability. We once again reaffirm our full support to the work of the International Criminal Court and human rights mechanisms.

We also need courage and respect. We simply need more. We all share responsibility. We will be judged by history for our actions as well as for lack of them. That is why I take this opportunity to call on Member States to take bold actions – to demand an end to starving civilians, a ceasefire and the release of hostages. To normalize ties with Israel, to recognize Palestine, to support Palestinian Authority, to provide humanitarian assistance and back reconstruction, to foster dialogue and finally – leadership for peace.

I thank you all.

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