The narratives by lithuanian jews diaspora: the case of israel – palestine conflict

The Israeli - Palestinian conflict is one of the world’s longest running and most controversial conflicts. Both sides of this confrontation by maintaining a small piece of true are spreading different narratives about this conflict. Because of modern technology, easier communication and synchronization of different cultures international arena is reconstructing one more important player – conflict diasporas. This raises the idea, that narratives created by diasporas are no less significant objects of analysis. Hence, mostly two nations - Jews and Palestinians - are recognizing these territories as their homeland and composing this conflict diasporas. Scholars across the world have been analyzing the Israeli - Palestinian conflict as well as diasporas involvement in it. In Lithuania, however, this topic is still lack for interesting and relevant findings. Therefore, this paper attempts to analyses namely Jewish diaspora, who is having a long historical experience in Lithuania, and is the fifth largest population living in Lithuania. In these days, transnational relationship between diaspora, its historical homeland and its host country is giving an opportunity for diaspora to have a unique position about the Israel - Palestine conflict and break a long existing taboo to criticize Israel policies and the whole conflict as well. Nowadays, younger part of Jewish diaspora, especially in USA, is questioning various aspects of the Israel - Palestine conflict on the contrary to their parents or grandparents. It is important to analyze this global phenomenon in Lithuanian case, because only then it is possible to discuss the future role of diaspora in this particular confrontation. The main focus of this paper is to analyze the narratives by Lithuanian Jews Diaspora about the Israel - Palestine conflict. To reach the answer, paper includes theoretical framework by Hazel Smith and Paul Stares about diasporas involvement in international conflicts as well as studies by Neil Howe and William Strauss about generational differences. The main tool of this research is semi-structured interview from Lithuanian Jews. In order to find out the narratives about the Israel - Palestine conflict by different Jewish generation, were completed 22 semi-structured interviews from X, Y, Baby Boom and Silent generations. Collected data was analyzed by content analyses method or to be exact - categorization of similar content segments. Considering the results, all subjects of this research had basic knowledge about the Israel - Palestine conflict, its causes and solutions as well as the understanding about Jewish diaspora identity. However, regarding more specific issues like settlements’ phenomenon, West Bank and Gaza, USA involvement and related laws, Lithuanian Jews diaspora were more fragmented. By the way, not all of research participants were able to answer more difficult and conflict enabling questions. Lithuanian case analyses confirmed global Jewish diaspora phenomenon about more critical younger Jewish generations position regarding Israel policies and the whole Israel - Palestine conflict. Paper concludes, that younger part of Lithuanian Jews diaspora is more critical about this confrontation causes, settlements expansion, Israel’s actions in West Bank territory and USA decisions regarding Jerusalem. In other words, younger Jewish diaspora, mostly represented by Y and X generations, in this confrontation is seeing more problematic and both sides incriminating situations