Israel has been admitted into the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP), Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Wednesday.
Instead of waiting months to secure a visa, Israelis will now only have to complete an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) form a few days before traveling to the US for visits of up to 90 consecutive days.
US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Stephanie Hallett offered her “Mazal Tov” to Israel on its entry to the VWP in a press conference on Wednesday, saying it is “yet another reflection of the strength of our bilateral security, economic and cultural relationship.”
The implementation of the process is expected to be completed by November 30.
PM Netanyahu released the following statement:
“Today we are marking an important and happy moment for all citizens of Israel. Israel has been designated into the US Visa Waiver Program, at long last, after many years.
This will save considerable time, bother and money for all Israeli citizens.
Whoever wants to visit the US will no longer need to wait months just to receive an appointment. We have been working on this for years, almost a decade, especially over the past year during which we passed extensive Knesset legislation that made possible the legal basis for this action. Only around 40 countries have visa exemptions and now Israel has joined the list.
This decision is additional testimony to the strong ties between Israel and the US. I would like to express our appreciation to US President Joe Biden for his support of the initiative, which will further strengthen ties between the two peoples. I would also like to thank Secretary of State Antony Blinken for his important role, and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas and Ambassador Thomas Nides for their efforts.
Thanks also go to National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and everyone who has worked for many years to secure this important achievement. Warm wishes to all the citizens Israel and have a pleasant flight.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
This is no Mazal Tov. Israel has had to agree to outrageous apparent reciprocal conditions allowing US citizens who are so called “palestinians” into Israel without any stringent security checks. Also how many more Israelis will now overstay illegally in the USA creating more antisemitic hatred and Chillul Hashem episodes?
Mazal Tov?
Is this how near sighted you are?
Now
Palestinian Anarchist
Universities students who preach antisemitism all over campus will flood israel and join the left in demonstrations. Pathetic
For what?
The devil is in the details.
Among other requirements,* Israel committed to treating all US travelers equally, including those of Muslim and Arab backgrounds, while reserving the right to refuse entry to those it deems to be a significant security threat.
*It also agreed* to allow the roughly 70,000 Palestinian-Americans identified on the Palestinian Authority’s population registry as living in the West Bank to apply for an ESTA-like permit, allowing them to enter Israel for up to 90 days, including to fly out of Ben Gurion Airport.