WASHINGTON – Israel and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), opening the way for Israel to join the American visa waiver program, it emerged on Wednesday.
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi confirmed the development; the agreement does not automatically include Israel in the program but removes the main hurdle to joining it.
The MOU will initiate a four-to-six-week review period during which Israel will execute a pilot program ensuring that most Iranian, Palestinian, and other Arab Americans are given equal treatment when traveling to or through Israel and they don’t face any complications.
The agreement is a major development considering that the US may allow visa-free entry to Israelis if the Israeli regime makes the agreement successful. At present, the Israelis require a visa to enter the US but it is expected that the success of the program would allow Israel to become part of the waiver program, which allows a country’s citizens to travel to the U.S. for 90 days without first obtaining a visa.
Israel’s Ambassador to Washington Mike Herzog and US Ambassador in Jerusalem Tom Nides signed the agreement which permits any American citizen to enter Israel via its airports, including Americans residing in the West Bank or Gaza.
Under the agreement, Palestinian Americans residing in the West Bank have to use a special app in order to get an entry permit to Israel for 90 days.
Commenting on the development, Tzachi Hanegbi said the new procedure marks another important step toward visa exemption for the United States.
On the other hand, Cohen said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has worked to promote Israel’s accession to the American visa exemption program.
“The agreement, he added, “advances us towards the goal I set: to finish the process by the end of October this year.”
Meanwhile, the State Department said a decision will be taken by Sept. 30 on Israel’s acceptance into the program and until then, Israel will face a trial period, to examine its promised new stance on Palestinians of American citizenship entering Israel.
In the recent past, the entry into Israel of American Palestinians, whether residing in the States, in the West Bank, or in Gaza, has faced complications and Israeli security agencies scrutinize entrance requests.
The Israeli security apparatus was also skeptical of the program and objected to the American demand to do away with such procedures, especially the entry of Americans into Gaza and dual national Americans but the political leaders instructed the security system to make all the necessary adjustments.
The visa waiver program is an exclusive privilege limited to countries that meet federal statutory requirements, including “reciprocity.” Reciprocity ensures that a US citizen is treated similarly to an Israeli citizen when traveling to their respective countries.
