Prime Minister meets Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem: our historical ties and friendship are something we take pride in and cherish

On Monday, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė met with President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog, to discuss bilateral relations between Lithuania and Israel, support for Ukraine, the distinctive cultural imprint of the Litvaks on Lithuania’s history, and the areas in which the Lithuanian-Israeli partnership could contribute to the bettering of both countries.

‘Lithuania’s historical ties and friendship with Israel are something we take pride in and cherish. Israel is a success story and a role model in multiple fields, a nation synonymous with innovation and creativity. We want our cooperation to continue to grow, strengthen and enrich our countries,’ said Prime Minister Šimonytė.

The Lithuanian Head of Government stressed the importance of supporting Ukraine in its defence against Russia’s brutal war. The outcome of this war is relevant for democracies that value a rules-based world order, as opposed to the ‘rule of law’ of force and violence that Russia and other authoritarian regimes follow.

The latter are closely following the reaction of the international community to the aggression, that is why we must maintain unity and ensure that our actions do not provide incentives for future attacks. This responsibility extends beyond Europe and has global implications. Cooperation between Russia and Iran is particularly worrying today, the Prime Minister noted.

The parties discussed the potential for promoting cultural exchanges and human relations between Lithuania and Israel, the possibilities for expanding economic cooperation, ways to take care of the Litvak heritage in Lithuania, the importance of preserving historical memory and education about the painful history of the Holocaust.