To the honorable Lithuanian Ambassador to Israel Mrs. Lina Antanavičienė
12 Aba Hillel Silver Street, 17th Floor
Ramat Gan 5250606

Re: Republic of Lithuania Independence celebration

Dear Ambassador Antanvicienė,

Thank you for the ”save the date” to the Lithuania Independence Day celebration to be held on March 16, 2020. Unfortunately, we shall not attend. The Association of Lithuanian Jews in Israel made a decision within its board of directors meeting of February 20, 2020, not to participate in the festivities until we have a sound solution to the proposed resolution to the Seimas by Mr. Gumuliauskas to absolve Lithuania and Lithuanians of their active participation in the Holocaust and in the murder of Jews during the period of World War II.

We have cooperated fully with the restored Independent Republic of Lithuania regimes in combating anti-Semitism and promoting historical recognition of that dark period of World War II between the years 1941-1945.

In my meeting with the Seimas Chairman Mr. Viktoras Pranckietis held in Jerusalem on January 23, 2020, the Chairman assured me that the proposed resolution would not be approved by him. To the best of my knowledge, in accordance with the Constitution of Lithuania, any bill approved by Seimas must obtain the approval of the President, and if the President does not approve, the Seimas Chairman can approve and sign and only thereafter the proposal is valid.

We have received Mr. Pranckietis’s assurance that he will not approve the resolution even if most of the elected members decide to approve, but we still have not received a response from the President of Lithuania regarding his position that he will neither support nor approve this resolution.

Following the demonstration that we held outside of the Lithuanian Embassy on January 24, 2020, we sent a letter addressed to President Nausėda on that subject. Some 200 Litvaks attended on a blistery cold and wet day to voice their concerns. Alas, President Nausėda has chosen not to reply to us. This is of grave concern. Without a pledge by the President, we will no longer cooperate with official activities of the Republic of Lithuania nor attend the Independence Day celebration.

The Association of Lithuanian Jews in Israel will encourage other Litvaks and Litvak organizations in Israel not to attend the Independence Day celebration.

I write this letter with great regret and a lack of choice as a result of the situation. I am certain you understand my position.

Respectfully,

Arie Ben-Ari, chair
Association of Lithuanian Jews in Israel