In a significant diplomatic move, the Biden administration announced on Wednesday that Israel has been admitted to the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Starting from November 30, Israeli citizens will no longer require a visa to travel to the United States; instead, they will only need to register with the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

In response to this development, Israel is expected to ease entry regulations for Palestinians holding US citizenship, as reported by The Times of Israel (TOI).

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken celebrated this milestone, stating, “Israel is now the 41st member of the visa waiver program. This significant achievement marks a significant stride in our strategic partnership.”

This decision marks a diplomatic success for the religious-nationalist government led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It comes at a time when relations between the Biden administration and Israel have been strained due to disagreements over Israel’s judicial reform proposal and its policies concerning the Palestinians, according to Reuters. Israel’s foreign ministry had anticipated this move.

According to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the decision “strengthens security, economic, and interpersonal bonds between the United States and Israel.”

As a result of this decision, Palestinians with US citizenship residing in the occupied West Bank or in the United States will have the opportunity to visit Israel without the need for a visa and utilize Ben Gurion International Airport for their travels.

To gain entry into the Visa Waiver Program, which allows visitors to stay in the United States for up to 90 days without a visa, countries must meet specific conditions, particularly related to security matters. Additionally, countries must extend equal treatment to all US travelers, regardless of their other nationalities.

However, it’s important to note that some Palestinians have voiced their opposition to Israel’s inclusion in the VWP, citing decades of perceived discriminatory treatment of Arab Americans at Israel’s borders.

According to TOI, this decision by the United States will impact approximately 70,000 Palestinian Americans registered in the West Bank, with a stricter measure applying to about 700 individuals in the Gaza Strip. This move has far-reaching implications for both Israeli-American relations and the Palestinian-American community, marking a significant development in the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.

Article by Prague Forum