Israel–Lithuania relations are foreign relations between Israel and Lithuania. Israel recognized Lithuania's independence in 1991. Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1992. Israel is represented in Lithuania through its embassy in Vilnius which was opened in 2015.[1][2] Lithuania has an embassy in Tel Aviv.
Before the Holocaust, Lithuania was home for 160,000 Jews which were 7% of the population.[3] Some Lithuanians honored the fighters who fought the Soviet Union ignoring the fact that many of them are Nazi collaborators. The Lithuanian government and society are shifting from the historical past as Lithuania built good relationship with Israel as Lithuania acknowledge the Israeli security needs, the rise of bilateral relations in the filed of economy, tourism, culture, and more. Antisemitic movements as BDS are minimal in Lithuania,[4] as the country combat antisemitism and brings the Jewish culture to be more presence.[5][6][7]
In 2022 Israel gifted the capital city Vilnius a paint wall to celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations.[9]
After the massacre of 7 October made by Hamas and other Palestinians, as around 1,200 murdered the Lithuanian government and society showed full support to Israel and the Jewish people in Lithuania. The Lithuanian parliament condemned the Hamas attacks in Israel with 108 votes.[10] The Lithuanian society demonstrated their support to Israel many times including ceremonies and demonstrations.[11][12] The Lithuanian Air Force was sent to Israel multiple times to evacuate Lithuanian citizens.[13]
Since 2001 Israel and Lithuania abolished the need for visa to travel.[28]
Lithuania puts efforts to market the tourism for the Israeli visitors as the number of tourists from Israel increase.[29] After the massacre of 7 October in 2023, Lithuania was shown by many Israeli media outlets as friendly, non-antisemitic, safe, green, interesting, and great cool escae from the summer.[30][31][32]
Tourism from Lithuania in Israel and tourists from Israel in Lithuania[33][34][35][36]
