The Biden administration has confirmed that it will allow Israelis to travel visa-free to the United States.

In a statement on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, the U.S Department of Homeland Security disclosed that Israel had been designated for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and that Israeli nationals will be able to travel to the U.S without a visa by November 30, 2023.

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 simply by registering with the Electronic System for Travel Authorization.

However, even if they are authorized to travel under that system, U.S. officials at the airport can still prevent them from entering the country.

The Department of Homeland Security administers 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 said that the designation of Israel into the Visa Waiver Program is an important recognition of shared security interests and the close cooperation between our U.S and Israel.

“This designation, which represents over a decade of work and coordination between the United States and Israel, will enhance our two nations’ collaboration on counterterrorism, law enforcement, and our other common priorities.”
Alejandro Mayorkas

Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the news.

He noted in a statement, “Today we mark an important and joyful moment for all citizens of Israel.”

“This will save you, citizens of Israel a lot of time, a lot of trouble and a lot of money,” he added.

Netanyahu described the decision as “further evidence of the strong ties between Israel and the United States” and thanked President Joe Biden and other officials who helped make it possible.

Michael Herzog, Israel’s Ambassador to the US, also lauded the decision as a “significant milestone” in the relationship between the two countries.

“Our people-to-people ties, which are the backbone of our special relationship, will only grow stronger,” Herzog wrote in a social media post.

Condemnation And Concerns Over Israel’s Treatment Of Palestinian American Travellers

Palestinian diplomats complained that the U.S. had allowed Israel into the program without the country fulfilling its commitments of equal treatment for Palestinian Americans.

Palestinian advocacy groups have reported that even during the test phase of the visa waiver agreement, Palestinian Americans have faced discrimination and harassment by Israeli authorities at airports and checkpoints.

“At a time when the U.S. administration has repeatedly said that its goal is for Israel to provide the same opportunities of freedom, equality, prosperity and security for both Palestinians and Israelis, we expect the Biden administration to implement what it believes, works on and promises,” the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Countries that want to take part in the visa program have to meet three critical benchmarks.

Israel met two of those benchmarks over the past two years: a low percentage of Israelis who applied for visas and were rejected and a low percentage of Israelis who have overstayed their visas.

Israel had struggled to meet the third, for reciprocity that essentially means all U.S. citizens, including Palestinian Americans, must be treated equally when traveling to or through Israel.

In Wednesday’s statement, the Biden administration said Israel “made updates to its entry policies to meet the VWP requirement to extend reciprocal privileges to all US citizens without regard to national origin, religion, or ethnicity.”

U.S. officials have stressed that Israel’s status in the program will be constantly monitored and if it is seen to fall out of compliance, the special visa waiver status can be revoked.