The Netanyahu authorities has simply pulled off a serious diplomatic victory, reaching a longtime objective towards upgrading US-Israel relations.
US Secretary of Homeland Safety Alejandro Mayorkas has agreed to Israel’s entry into the US Visa Waiver Program, which signifies that for the primary time Israeli residents will be capable of journey to america visa-free. It’ll take impact Nov. 30, according to US officers.
“The designation of Israel into the Visa Waiver Program is a vital recognition of our shared safety pursuits and the shut cooperation between our two nations,” Mayorkas stated in Wednesday assertion confirming Israel’s upgraded standing.
And Secretary of State Antony Blinken hailed the designation as “a crucial step ahead” within the US strategic partnership with Israel “that can additional strengthen long-standing people-to-people engagement, financial cooperation, and safety coordination between our two nations” – as quoted in Axios.
“This vital achievement will improve freedom of motion for U.S. residents, together with these residing within the Palestinian Territories or touring to and from them,” he added, in reference to reciprocity. Israel will now enable US passport holders visa-free journey in return, together with theoretically Palestinian-People.
Nevertheless, Arab teams and Palestinian activists have charged that Israel has failed to vary its entry insurance policies in observe, and that it’ll nonetheless discriminate towards Palestinians, even when they’re US residents. In response to Al Jazeera:
On Tuesday, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) stated it had filed a lawsuit towards Israel’s VWP designation. “Credible stories and ADC’s personal investigations have proven that Israel failed to satisfy all the authorized necessities for admission,” the group stated.
Abed Ayoub, the ADC’s govt director, instructed Al Jazeera earlier this week that by letting Israel into the programme, the Biden administration “has endorsed and embraced Israeli discrimination and apartheid”.
“With this determination, the US authorities can be sending a message that not all American passport holders are equal,” Ayoub stated.
This vital step in US-Israel relations comes after final week President Biden and PM Netanyahu met on the sidelines of the UN Basic Meeting in New York.
Relations have been on the rocks, given the controversial judicial reform initiative in Israel, and the truth that Netanyahu was by no means invited to the White Home after being sworn in once more as prime minister. Netanyahu took it as a private affront, however this Visa Waiver Program improve is being seen as a breakthrough.
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