Today marks a significant and joyful moment for all citizens of Israel," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressing his gratitude for Israel's inclusion in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. He described the decision as evidence of strong ties between Israel and the United States and thanked President Joe Biden and other officials for their contributions to this achievement. However, Palestinian diplomats raised concerns, asserting that Israel was included in the program without fulfilling its commitments of equal treatment for Palestinian Americans. Palestinian advocacy groups reported instances of discrimination and harassment faced by Palestinian Americans by Israeli authorities at airports and checkpoints, even during the test phase of the visa waiver agreement. The U.S. Visa Waiver Program has specific benchmarks for countries seeking participation. Israel met two of these benchmarks over the past two years: a low percentage of visa applications from Israelis being rejected and a low percentage of Israelis overstaying their visas. The third benchmark, reciprocity, requires that all U.S. citizens, including Palestinian Americans, be treated equally when traveling to or through Israel. Israel's separate entry requirements and screening processes for Palestinian Americans have been a source of contention, with many alleging onerous and discriminatory procedures. Palestinians with residency documents in the West Bank and Gaza Strip were often unable to use Israel's international airport and had to travel through Jordan or Egypt instead
U.S. officials emphasized that Israel's participation in the program would be closely monitored, and if it fails to comply with the requirements, its special visa waiver status could be revoked. The decision to include Israel in the program reflects the ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between the United States and Israel, while also addressing concerns about equal treatment for all travelers, including Palestinian Americans.
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