The Biden administration is prepared this week to enter Israel into aspecial club, allowing Israelis to travel to the United States without avisa, despite concerns about the Israeli government’s treatment ofPalestinian Americans.
According to non-governmental organizations, U.S. officials had indicatedthat the announcement of entry into Israel’s visa waiver program could comeat the end of the week, just before the conclusion of the fiscal year, andit would go into effect next year.
The Department of Homeland Security administers this program, whichcurrently allows citizens from nearly 40 European and Asian countries totravel to the U.S. for up to 3 months without a visa. After Secretary ofState Antony Blinken’s recommendation for entry into Israel was received,five officials familiar with the matter spoke on the condition of anonymitySunday.
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He said that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is expected tomake the announcement on Thursday, but a final decision has not been madeyet.
