Document: How Robert Golob and Asta Vrečko Betrayed the Palestinians and Their Supporters

(Patria) - It is now clear why Robert Golob's government hid the document on how ministers voted on joining the lawsuit against Israel for almost three months, writes Slovenian info360.si.

Don't look at what politicians say, but what they do – this is especially true for the attitude of outgoing Prime Minister Robert Golob towards Israel and the Palestinians. Despite his public claims that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians, a government document obtained by journalist Nenad Glucks paints a different picture. At the government session on March 12, he declaratively supported Slovenia joining South Africa's lawsuit against Israel, but did not vote on the proposal.

Ahead of the parliamentary elections, Golob repeatedly spoke about the genocide of the Palestinians, but at the crucial moment when the government was deciding on joining the lawsuit before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, he left the Palestinians and their supporters without support. He was not alone.

Concealment

Golob's government refused to provide the voting document to the Info360 portal for almost three months.

Secretary General of the Government Barbara Kolenko Helbl claimed that publishing the document could cause disruptions or irreparable damage to the government's work.

The Prime Minister did not want to explain to the public how he personally voted, or whether he voted at all.

However, just one day before the election of Janez Janša's new government, the government responded to the appeal submitted by the portal to the office of the Information Commissioner.

It was announced that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs removed the confidentiality classification from the document on May 13, after which the General Secretariat delivered the voting record. Its content confirms that Golob had reason to hide it.

The document states:

"The Prime Minister expressed support for the proposed material at the beginning of the discussion."

Golob did not vote, nor did the vocal advocate for Palestinians, Asta Vrečko

Golob thus supported in principle joining the lawsuit proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed by Tanja Fajon.

However, he himself did not vote, while as many as seven ministers from the Freedom Movement voted against joining the lawsuit. Among them were the most prominent party members: Klemen Boštjančič, Matej Arčon, and Borut Sajovic.

Five ministers from that party did not vote, and the only one who supported joining was Alenka Bratušek.

According to the article, the coordinator of the Left party, Asta Vrečko, also played a double game. According to portal sources, she left the session room just before the vote and later returned. Afterwards, she publicly criticized the government's decision, saying:

"The Left's position is clear – genocide is happening in Gaza and we should have joined the lawsuit against Israel."

Yet, she herself did not participate in the vote.

Only Alenka Bratušek, Luka Mesec from the Left (while Simona Maljevac did not attend the session), and all three ministers from the SD party – Tanja Fajon, Matjaž Han, and Andreja Kokalj – voted to join the lawsuit.

Israel welcomed the decision

One of the sources present said that Golob was "almost forced" to include this item on the session agenda.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs was satisfied with the Slovenian government's decision. A few days later, they stated:

"We welcome the responsible decision of the Slovenian government not to join South Africa's false and defamatory lawsuit against Israel before the International Court of Justice."

The first video clips attributed to the Israeli intelligence company Black Cube were released the day before the government session. Several more appeared afterwards, but not all that had been announced.

New Prime Minister Janez Janša responded to Golob on social network X, after Golob criticized him for congratulating Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

"If in Israel they are really such criminals as you describe them, why did you withdraw the lawsuit after the release of several corruption videos?"

The General Secretariat of the Government stated that the content of the ministers' discussion is not public, which is why it was not provided to the media. Proceedings on this matter are still ongoing before the Information Commissioner.