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World Jewish News
Israeli Ambassador to Lithuania and Latvia on Friendship, Restitution, and anti-Semitism
13.06.2009
The chief representative of Israel in Latvia and Lithuania Hen Ivry Apter is one of the few our Ambassadors who observes the commandments and wears a skull hat. In an interview with a journalist of IzRus portal, he mentioned that his grandfather came to the land of Israel from
Kiev region of Ukraine. Replying to a question, whether religious traditions interfere with diplomatic activities, Hen Ivry remarked: "Being an Ambassador and an observant Jew is an extra challenge, which is interesting to face. Often this is accompanied by overcoming a number of difficulties associated with the kosher requirements and Shabbos." As the Ambassador explained, he sometimes has to walk on foot to official events by the authorities or other embassies, if they are held on Saturdays: "I know that the surrounding people perceive this with understanding and respect to the traditions of the Jewish people."
Apter has been heading the Israeli mission to the two Baltic countries for the third year already, with residence in Riga (Estonia is overseen by the Ambassador to Finland). According to the diplomat, he has "very interesting and exciting work - watching the transition of the states from Soviet to a more European, modern lifestyle." Apter believes that both countries are friendly to Israel. "This is a very special friendship, the manifestations of which we see in international organizations, as both countries belong to the EU and NATO since 2004." The Ambassador
noted that, while Latvia and Lithuania are not the leaders in Europe, but "a lot of times, during discussions on the European level, they align themselves with those countries that support Israel." For example, in April 2009 in Geneva at the UN conference, the delegations of both countries withdrew from the hall before the speech of Iranian President Ahmadinejad.
The parliaments of two countries have not raised the topic of the Middle East, but discuss the topic of Jews and restitution - the return or compensation for lost Jewish community property. As reported by the IzRus portal, 3 years ago in Latvia, a draft law on restitution was prepared, but later blocked by the Parliament.
Nevertheless, the Jewish community continues to act, waiting for changes in the policies of the new government after the next election. "The State of Israel is not engaged in negotiations about this, but we support them. During the meetings with the authorities, I have consistently raised this issue," said the Ambassador, emphasizing that this is not about granting the entire amount - the community agrees to split the compensation into payments.
The economic crisis, according to Apter, has heavily hit the Israeli businesses in the region. In previous years, the real estate company of Leo Levaev; a huge shopping center of Moti Ziser, and other construction contractors have been active on the local real estate market. "Now there is a fall in real estate prices - this is a bubble, which has to burst," - considers the ambassador. Israelis are also active in the field of communications (eg, "Dan tikshoret" company, a representation office of the company "Sano." There are Israeli businessmen who work as top managers and directors in the shipping industry and energy sphere. Approximately a few hundred Israelis live and work in Latvia.
Apter lamented at the reduction of JAFI activities in the Baltic countries and the absence of a special emissary of the Jewish Agency for these countries.
A separate issue is the survival of the local Jewish schools, which were hit by budget cuts in the project "Heftsiba." Nevertheless, Latvia and Lithuania manage to send group of students and the youth for "Taglit" project.
Speaking of Lithuania, an Israeli diplomat named the three current problems: issues of restitution, the history of the former Jewish cemetery Shnipishkes, and the authorities' attempt to give to court the Jewish partisans, anti-fascists. The first question is being actively developed by the leaders of the Jewish community in Lithuania, the second is discussed with Lithuanian authorities to determine the boundaries of the cemetery and marking the place of the burials.
"If there are anti-Semitic manifestations, we are not afraid to raise the voice and act through diplomatic channels. If there are problems associated with Jewish communities, we act and show an interest - it is part of the Israeli ambassadors' work," - said Hen Ivry Apter. According to him, last year's attempts of the Lithuanian prosecutors to bring to justice the Jewish partisans, Yitzhak Arad, Fanya Brantsovskaya and Rachel Margolis caused the protest of the Israeli Embassy.
According to the ambassador, "this topic has not yet been withdrawn from the agenda, it is just quiet, but we continue to monitor it."
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