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Slovenia turns away Israeli passenger jet, forcing it to land in neighboring Croatia

47 0
03.06.2026

Slovenian authorities denied an Israeli passenger plane permission to land in the country’s capital on Wednesday as a protest against Israeli government policy.

The Israir Airlines jet was forced to divert to an airstrip in neighboring Croatia.

The Foreign Ministry denounced the incident as “completely unacceptable.”

The plane arrived at Ljubljana Airport, but air traffic controllers refused to let it touch down, according to Hebrew media reports.

Israir director Uri Sirkis called it a “blatant violation of European Union aviation agreements.”

He said Slovenian authorities are refusing to let any Israeli carriers land, “because they are strongly opposed, politically, to the Israeli government line.”

Israel’s Foreign Ministry and Civil Aviation Authority reportedly worked to resolve the issue, without success.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement, “Israel clarified to the Slovenian authorities that it is a completely unacceptable decision.”

The ministry noted that Slovenia is in the process of establishing a new government “instead of the outgoing, hostile government, and Israel expects a significant improvement in the relations between the countries.”

Transportation........

© The Times of Israel