Biden Admin to Expand Visa-Free Access for Foreigners to US!
The Biden Administration to Grant Israel Open Access to the US – No Visa Needed!
The Biden administration is on the verge of welcoming Israel into an exclusive club that will allow its citizens to travel to the United States without a U.S. visa, despite ongoing concerns about the Israeli government’s treatment of Palestinian Americans.
An announcement of Israel’s entry into the Visa Waiver Program is expected later this week, just before the end of the federal budget year. This move will enable Israel’s admission without the need to requalify for eligibility next year.
The Department of Homeland Security oversees the program, which currently allows citizens of 40 mostly European and Asian countries to travel to the U.S. for three months without visas.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is set to make the announcement on Thursday, following a recommendation from Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The decision has not yet been publicly announced, but five officials familiar with the matter revealed this information on Sunday.
Blinken’s recommendation is expected to be delivered by Tuesday, and the final announcement will come just eight days after President Joe Biden met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York.
The leaders did not discuss this issue during their meeting, but it has been a topic of intense negotiation and debate for months, along with the Biden administration’s efforts to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
The State Department and the Homeland Security Department have not made any public announcements yet, stating that they will make a final determination in the coming days.
Israel’s admission into the Visa Waiver Program has been a long-standing priority for Israeli leaders and will be a significant achievement for Netanyahu, who has had frequent disagreements with the Biden administration over Iran, the Palestinian conflict, and recent proposed changes to Israel’s judicial system.
Netanyahu’s government has faced criticism from the U.S. regarding its treatment of Palestinians, including the construction of West Bank settlements, opposition to Palestinian statehood, and comments by senior Cabinet ministers that have been deemed anti-Palestinian.
This move by the U.S. will provide a boost to Netanyahu’s standing at home, as he has been facing mass protests against his judicial plan. However, it is likely to draw criticism from Palestinians, who argue that the U.S. should not reward the Israeli government while peace efforts remain stagnant.
Israel has met two of the three critical criteria over the past two years to join the U.S. program. However, it has struggled to meet the requirement for reciprocity, which means treating all U.S. citizens equally, including Palestinian Americans, when traveling to or through Israel.
Israel has historically had separate entry requirements and screening processes for Palestinian Americans, citing national security reasons. Many have complained about the discriminatory and burdensome procedures they faced.
In recent months, Israel has made adjustments to its entry requirements for Palestinian Americans, allowing them to use Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv and travel directly to the West Bank and Israel. Israel has also pledged to ease movement for Palestinian Americans in and out of the Gaza Strip.
New regulations have been implemented to codify these changes, although concerns remain. The Homeland Security Department intends to emphasize in its announcement that it will continue to monitor the situation to ensure Israel’s compliance. Failure to comply could result in Israel’s suspension from the program.
Palestinian American activists have criticized this impending decision, arguing that it overlooks the continued discrimination against Palestinian Americans and rewards the Israeli government despite their extremist agenda.
Under the waiver program, Israelis will be able to travel to the U.S. for business or leisure purposes for up to 90 days without a visa by registering with the Electronic System for Travel Authorization.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
The post Biden Administration Set to Give Even More Foreigners Open Access to US – No Visa Needed! appeared first on The Western Journal.
What concerns do lawmakers and advocacy groups have regarding the treatment of Palestinian Americans when visiting Israel?
Ans. This has been a significant concern for lawmakers and advocacy groups, who argue that Palestinian Americans face discrimination and mistreatment when visiting Israel.
Despite these ongoing concerns, the Biden administration is reportedly set to grant Israel open access to the United States, allowing its citizens to travel without a U.S. visa. An announcement regarding Israel’s inclusion into the Visa Waiver Program is expected later this week, just before the end of the federal budget year. This move will enable Israel’s admission without the need to requalify for eligibility next year.
The Visa Waiver Program, overseen by the Department of Homeland Security, currently allows citizens of 40 mostly European and Asian countries to travel to the U.S. for three months without visas. Israel’s admission into this program has been a long-standing priority for Israeli leaders, and it will be seen as a significant achievement for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The final decision regarding Israel’s inclusion into the Visa Waiver Program will be announced by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Thursday, following a recommendation from Secretary of State Antony Blinken. While the announcement has not been made publicly yet, five officials familiar with the matter have revealed this information on Sunday.
It is important to note that the leaders of both countries, President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, did not discuss this issue during their recent meeting in New York. However, it has been a topic of intense negotiation and debate for months, along with the Biden administration’s efforts to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
The State Department and the Homeland Security Department have not yet made any public announcements, stating that they will make a final determination in the coming days. While Israel has met two of the three critical criteria to join the U.S. program over the past two years, the requirement for reciprocity, treating all U.S. citizens equally, including Palestinian Americans, has been a challenge.
Netanyahu’s government has faced criticism from the U.S. regarding its treatment of Palestinians, including the construction of West Bank settlements, opposition to Palestinian statehood, and comments by senior Cabinet ministers deemed anti-Palestinian. Granting Israel open access to the United States without addressing these concerns may draw criticism from Palestinians, who argue that the U.S. should not reward the Israeli government while peace efforts remain stagnant.
Nevertheless, this move by the Biden administration will provide a boost to Netanyahu’s standing at home, as he has been facing mass protests against his judicial plan. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact the ongoing debate surrounding Israeli-Palestinian relations and the pursuit of peace in the region. The final determination on Israel’s inclusion into the Visa Waiver Program will undoubtedly be closely monitored by stakeholders on both sides.
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