US progressive lawmakers question Israel's eligibility for visa waivers

A small group of US progressive lawmakers are questioning Israel's eligibility for the visa waiver programme, which allows citizens of certain countries to enter the US without having to apply for a visa.

In a joint letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, the lawmakers focus on Israel's discrimination based on the ethnicity of US citizens trying to enter Israel.

"Ensuring the security and dignity of every American citizen and resident – both at home and abroad – is one of the most important responsibilities of the United States and a sacred duty entrusted to our elected officials. With this in mind, we, the undersigned Members of Congress, write to you to express our deep concern regarding continuing reports of discriminatory treatment of American passport holders by the Government of Israel," reads the letter, issued by congress members Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and so far, co-signed by Betty McCullum, obtained and reported by Jewish Insider.

In a letter to colleagues soliciting signatures, Tlaib points out that a criterion for being eligible for the visa waiver programme is reciprocity, which currently does not exist. 

The letter points to a new Israeli policy from February that would make the country more selective of foreign entries to the country, which it is believed would place further restrictions on Americans with Arab backgrounds.

The new ordinance, titled Procedure for Entry and Residence for Foreigners in Judea and Samaria Area, according to the congress members' letter, "further complicates and formalizes previous written and unwritten entry restrictions and requirements for Americans wishing to visit, do business, reunite and reside with their Palestinian families, work or volunteer in those parts of the occupied West Bank under Palestinian Authority (PA) civil and security administration, or study or teach at Palestinian academic institutions."

In contrast, the letter notes that Americans wishing to reunite with an Israeli family in Israel would not face the same restrictions.

Such discrimination, the letter reads, is nothing new.

Moreover, it points out that it is common practice for Israeli border security to ask travellers to provide access to their email, social media and other online accounts, meaning visitors should not expect to keep their privacy when travelling to Israel. These policies, the letter argues, puts Israel in a position where it should not qualify for the visa waiver programme.

The letter stresses, "The current government of Israel’s discriminatory policies place the country well outside the requirements incumbent on all countries to join the Visa Waiver Program, which include, among other things, having 'reciprocal privileges to citizens and nationals of the United States.'"