Israel to be Admitted into US Visa Waiver Program
The Biden administration is set to announce that Israel will be admitted into the United States Visa Waiver Program (VWP), allowing visa-free entry for Israeli citizens starting from November 30. This decision comes as a win for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist government, which has faced strained relations with Washington over its judiciary overhaul plan and policies towards the Palestinians.
The Visa Waiver Program allows visitors to stay in the United States for up to 90 days without a visa. To be eligible for the program, countries must meet certain requirements on issues such as counterterrorism, law enforcement, immigration enforcement, document security, and border management. Additionally, countries must treat all US travelers equally, regardless of other passports they hold.
For Israel, this means granting free passage for Palestinian Americans at its airports and on journeys within the occupied Palestinian territories. However, some Palestinians have protested against Israel’s entry into the VWP, citing decades of discriminatory treatment of Arab Americans and harassment at Israel’s borders.
To address these concerns, Israel has eased access for Palestinian Americans through its borders and the Israeli-occupied West Bank during a pilot period that began on July 20. It is estimated that between 45,000 and 60,000 Palestinian Americans currently reside in the West Bank. However, an Israeli official suggests a lower figure, stating that out of the 70,000 to 90,000 Palestinian Americans worldwide, only 15,000 to 20,000 are West Bank residents.
The United States Visa Waiver Program currently includes 40 countries, with new nations being added infrequently. The most recent addition was Croatia in 2021. However, concerns were raised by a group of 15 US senators who wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on September 8, expressing serious concerns about Israel’s compliance with requirements for reciprocal treatment of all US citizens.
In response to Israel’s admission into the VWP, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security seeking to block Israel’s entry. However, a US judge in Detroit denied an emergency motion on procedural grounds, stating that proper notice of the lawsuit had not been provided to the department.
The inclusion of Israel in the Visa Waiver Program has been a goal for the Biden administration. In August 2021, the White House announced that it was working with Israel towards its inclusion in the program. Now, with the official announcement imminent, Israeli citizens will soon be able to enjoy visa-free travel to the United States.
This development is expected to strengthen ties between the two countries and promote tourism and business exchanges. Israeli citizens will have greater ease and convenience in visiting the United States, fostering cultural understanding and economic opportunities.
In conclusion, Israel’s admission into the United States Visa Waiver Program marks a significant milestone in US-Israel relations. Despite some concerns raised by Palestinians and US senators, the Biden administration has decided to move forward with this decision. As of November 30, Israeli citizens will be able to travel to the United States without a visa, contributing to increased bilateral cooperation and engagement between the two nations.