WASHINGTON — Congress passed a bill that allows Israeli citizens to travel to the U.S. without obtaining a visa. Law makers unanimously voted the decision in on December 3, 2014. The new law will allow Israeli citizens to enter the U.S. for 90 days without requiring them to go through the process of acquiring a tourist visa.
The Visa 9 waiver program includes a list of several Asian countries along with the entirety of western Europe. Some eastern European counties including former soviet satellite states such as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are included on the list.
According to the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPCAC), this is the most important legislation to pass in congress in several decades. Former drafts of the bill did not pass due to disagreements among lawmakers on the specific wording of the document.
Unlike the other members on the Visa 9 Waiver list, Israel is not willing to reciprocate the visa-free policy toward the U.S. In the past, Israel refused Americans of Muslim heritage to enter the country as well as Palestinian-Americans entrance into the country. The bill asks Israel to include Americans regardless of creed and ethnicity to be allowed into the country, the same rules that apply for Israelis. Full reciprocity is needed from Israel before Israelis will be allowed into the U.S. without a visa.
In addition to the change in visa procedures benefiting Israeli citizens, the bill reinforces America’s commitment to Israel’s security in the Middle East. Likewise, the value of American arms and weapons stored in Israel will increase from $1.6 billion to $1.8 billion increasing their military alliances. Israel will have unlimited access to all U.S. weapons.
The relationship between the U.S. and Israel has not always been mutually beneficial as American allegiance with Israel garners disapproval from several international institutions and European countries. Of these issues, on the top of the list is Benjamin Netanyahu’s policy on building Israeli settlements in occupied territory. President Obama spoke against Israel’s controversial policies in the West Bank. Israel continues to build settlements, however, because they do not recognize the West Bank as occupied territory.
Criticisms from the U.S. have slowed, but not completely stopped the construction which Israel’s Defense Minister, Moshe Yalaan sees as a major obstacle to Israel’s national security in the Middle East.
However, the deal implies a significant reinforcement of the American-Israeli alliance. The bill states, “Today, the people and Governments of the United States and of Israel are facing a dynamic and rapidly changing security environment in the Middle East and North Africa, necessitating deeper cooperation on a range of defense, security, and intelligence matters.”
The bill emphasizes shared values and reinforces the strong military, economic and cultural bond shared between the two countries. Military support for Israel has been a subject that has garnered bipartisan support in congress in the past. If Israel reciprocates the requirements, the U.S. and Israel will both benefit from increased travel and tourism.
– Maxine Gordon
Sources: Washington Times, U.S. State Department, GLOBES, Bloomberg, Boston Herald
Photo: Stand for Israel