US Calls Israeli Foreign Ministry’s Visa Waiver Announcement ‘Premature’

The US Embassy in Israel pushed back Tuesday on recent claims by the Israeli Foreign Ministry that Israel has been accepted into the US Visa Waiver Program. A US Embassy spokesperson said that the decision had not yet been finalized and labeled the Foreign Ministry’s announcement “premature.”

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said on Monday that the US would soon enable Israelis to visit the US without requiring a traditional paper visa, substituting it with a discounted electronic permit. Israelis holding biometric passports would be able to obtain a visa within 72 hours of an online request, valid for up to 90 days.

Cohen described Israel’s purported inclusion in the program as a “diplomatic achievement” and credited US President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and outgoing US Ambassador Tom Nides for their roles in the project. The decision was expected to be implemented in November.

The move comes after 18 months of negotiations and commitments from Israel to permit the entry of Palestinians holding US citizenship. Despite the enthusiasm, the US Embassy clarified that the secretaries of homeland security and state would make the final decision in the coming days.