Jerusalem, Wednesday, September 27, 2023 (MTI) – Israel has also been included in the US Visa Waiver Program, according to the joint announcement by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday.
Photography: Jacques Guez/AFP
Israelis are expected to be eligible to enter the United States for up to 90 days without a visa for business or tourism purposes starting in late November, when Israel’s electronic ESTA application system goes live.
Israel is the 40th country on the list of visa-free countries, which includes Germany, France, Great Britain, Singapore, Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Norway, Switzerland, and Sweden. South Korea is included.
Jerusalem has been trying to join the program for several years, but has not yet met the conditions. But during the previous Bennett Lapid government, US President Joe Biden announced that Washington was working to annex Israel, and his candidacy was officially announced.
This step was preceded by long negotiations and Israeli preparations, including legislative amendments. It has been an American requirement of Israel that American citizens of Palestinian origin be able to enter Israel freely regardless of their ethnicity.
