In a significant move, the Biden administration has welcomed Israel into an exclusive circle of countries whose citizens can travel to the United States without the need for a visa in advance. This decision, announced on Wednesday, comes amidst Washington’s ongoing concerns about how the Israeli government treats Palestinian Americans. Notably, it marks a significant achievement for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has often found himself at odds with the Biden administration.
Under this newly granted waiver program, Israeli citizens will have the privilege of traveling to the United States for both business and leisure purposes for a period of up to 90 days without the requirement of obtaining a visa in advance. Instead, they can simply register with the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). However, it’s essential to note that even if Israelis are authorized for travel through this system, U.S. officials at the airport retain the authority to deny entry into the country.
Israel faced a looming deadline, the conclusion of the U.S. government’s fiscal year, to secure admission into this program without the need to requalify for eligibility in the following year.
The Department of Homeland Security oversees this program, which presently extends visa-free travel privileges to citizens of 40 countries, primarily from Europe and Asia, allowing them to stay in the U.S. for up to three months without obtaining a visa.
Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas hailed this decision, which culminated after more than a decade of effort, as a means to “enhance our two nations’ collaboration on counterterrorism, law enforcement, and our other common priorities,” ultimately bolstering the security of the allies.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a joint statement with Mayorkas, emphasized the improved “freedom of movement for U.S. citizens, including those living in the Palestinian Territories or traveling to and from them.”
Securing a place in the visa program has been a longstanding goal for successive Israeli leaders. This achievement comes as Prime Minister Netanyahu grapples with sustained mass protests against his proposed reforms to Israel’s judicial system, which critics argue could undermine the country’s democratic foundations.
Countries seeking entry into the visa program must meet three critical criteria. Israel successfully met two of these benchmarks in the past two years: a low percentage of visa applications from Israelis being rejected and a low percentage of Israelis overstaying their visas. However, Israel had faced challenges in meeting the third benchmark, which pertains to reciprocity. This criterion demands that all U.S. citizens, including Palestinian Americans, be treated equally when traveling to or through Israel.
For years, Israel has maintained distinct entry requirements and screening procedures for Palestinian Americans, citing national security concerns. Many have decried these practices as burdensome and discriminatory. Palestinian Americans holding residency documents in the West Bank and Gaza Strip were largely barred from utilizing Israel’s international airport, necessitating travel through Jordan or Egypt to reach their destinations.
U.S. officials underscored that Israel’s status within the visa waiver program would undergo constant scrutiny. If it deviates from compliance with program requirements, the special visa waiver status could be revoked.
The Biden administration’s decision to grant Israel visa waiver status is a notable development, though it unfolds against a backdrop of ongoing concerns about the treatment of Palestinian Americans and the need for continued vigilance in monitoring compliance with program standards.
