Israel announced on Wednesday that it will allow visa-free entry to US citizens, including Palestinians with dual citizenship, after reaching an agreement to join the US Visa Waiver Program, which will be reciprocal.

The Israeli ambassador in Washington, Michael Herzog, and his US counterpart, Tom Nides, have signed a memorandum of understanding on this matter, which allows travel for tourism, business and airport transit for less than 90 days.

Herzog has indicated that he has had “the privilege of representing the Israeli Government” in this signing”, which he has described as an “important milestone for Israel to join the program”, as indicated on his profile on the social network Twitter.

The United States government has explained that US citizens will be able to take advantage of these measures as of July 20, when Israel’s change in short-term travel procedures comes into force.

However, the Israeli government is working “closely” with the US State Department in “its efforts” to meet the necessary requirements to enter the program. Thus, Washington “will monitor the implementation of its policies.”

The spokesman for the US State, Matthew Miller, has welcomed Israel’s announcement to change travel procedures for short visits to the country, considering that it is about “guaranteeing equal treatment for all US citizens, regardless of origin, religion or ethnicity.”

“The updated travel policies (…) will allow all US citizens to travel to Israel through all ports of entry,” Miller explained, referring to the inclusion of Palestinian US citizens living in the Palestinian territories.

The director of the Israeli National Security Council, Tzachi Hanegbi, explained that the “full application of the procedure will be addressed to any American, regardless of who they are, including Americans with dual citizenship, Americans living in Judea and Samaria (the Biblical name for the West Bank) and Americans living in the Gaza Strip,” reported The Jerusalem Post.

Source: dpa

(Reference image source: Briana Tozour, Unsplash)

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