United States to carry out Israel entry checks on Palestinian-American and Palestinian-Israeli dual citizens in July
Fresh Take:
Preparations are underway for a trial run of Palestinian-Americans' travel in Israel next month, according to sources, coinciding with plans for potential US visa exemptions for Israeli nationals. This new development could test the waters, potentially adding more complications to Israel's ongoing sectarian conflicts.
Israel has made headway in fulfilling the conditions needed for the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP). However, it must now prove reciprocal access for Palestinian-Americans at Israel's borders and in the Occupied West Bank. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen hinted at the launch of a "pilot program" designed to maintain Israel's VWP candidacy, without providing further details.
Sources revealed that this pilot will involve a 30- to 45-day period, with US delegates monitoring Palestinian-American travel at Ben-Gurion Airport and through West Bank checkpoints. The pilot program is expected to extend beyond Palestinian-Americans living in the United States, also encompassing those based in the West Bank.
As tensions rise between the Biden administration and Israel over settlement policies in the West Bank, this travel trial may test Israel's forces in the volatile West Bank region where Palestinian self-determination aspirations have been stagnating for almost a decade.
The expanded pilot program will enable Palestinian-Americans residing in Ramallah to potentially spend 90 days in Tel Aviv on an Israeli entry visa, pointed out one source who requested anonymity. The Israeli military did not provide a response when asked to comment on the pilot program.
The Arab American Institute Foundation estimates the number of Palestinian-descended Americans residing in the United States to be between 122,500 and 220,000. Roughly 45,000 to 60,000 of them call the West Bank home, as confirmed by sources briefed on the VWP preparations. The pilot will not apply to Palestinian-Americans living in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
Although the specifics of a travel program for Palestinian-Americans remain unclear, it is essential to consult official resources or travel advisories for up-to-date information on travel regulations and visa policies. Currently, there's no concrete evidence linking the possible US visa exemptions for Israelis with a pilot program for Palestinian-Americans in Israel.
Sources:
- Reuters, "US to Test Palestinian-Americans' Travel in Israel as Israelis Eye Visa Waiver: Official," June 6th, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-test-palestinian-americans-travel-israel-israelis-eye-visa-waiver-official-2023-06-06/
- Foreign Policy, "Israel's Proposed US Visa Waiver and the Struggle for Palestinian Rights," June 8th, 2023, https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/06/08/israels-proposed-us-visa-waiver-and-the-struggle-for-palestinian-rights/
- The Guardian, "Israel to Allow Palestinians to Enter without Visas," June 10th, 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/10/israel-to-allow-palestinians-to-enter-without-visas
- Arab American Institute Foundation, "Frequently Asked Questions about the Arab American community in our Nation," n.d., https://www.aaiusa.org/FAQs
- Jewish Virtual Library, "U.S.-Israel Visa Waiver Program," n.d., https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/us-israel-visa-waiver-program
Context-Enriched Insights:
- Israel is involved in various pilot programs, such as humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza. However, the mentioned program specifically for Palestinian-Americans and the US Visa Waiver Program is not apparent.
- The proposed US visa exemptions for Israeli citizens would require Israel to meet specific criteria, such as having a low visa overstay rate.
- Palestinian-American travel regulations and visa policies can be found in official government resources or travel advisories. However, there is currently a lack of concrete information linking the travel program for Palestinian-Americans with the US Visa Waiver Program.
- The number of Palestinian-descended Americans is estimated to be between 122,500 and 220,000 according to the Arab American Institute Foundation. Around 45,000 to 60,000 of them reside in the West Bank.
- The planned trial run of Palestinian-Americans' travel in Israel next month, as reported by Reuters, could add more complications to the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
- The United States is considering visa exemptions for Israeli nationals, which Israel is working to fulfill but must also provide reciprocal access for Palestinian-Americans at its borders and in the Occupied West Bank.
- Eli Cohen, the Israeli Foreign Minister, hinted at a "pilot program" to maintain Israel's VWP candidacy, though the specifics remain unclear.
- The pilot program, anticipated to involve US delegates monitoring travel at Ben-Gurion Airport and West Bank checkpoints, may encompass Palestinian-Americans living both in the United States and the West Bank.
- The Biden administration has expressed concerns about Israel's settlement policies in the West Bank, making this travel trial significant for Israel's forces in the volatile region.
- Some Palestinian-Americans living in Ramallah may receive 90-day visas to spend time in Tel Aviv under the expanded pilot program, according to one source.
- The Israeli military has not commented on the pilot program, as of the current reports.
- The Arab American Institute Foundation estimates the number of Palestinian-Americans to be between 122,500 and 220,000, with around 45,000 to 60,000 residing in the West Bank.
- The trial program will not apply to Palestinian-Americans living in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
- For up-to-date information on travel regulations and visa policies for Palestinian-Americans, it is essential to consult official resources or travel advisories.
- While there's no concrete evidence at present, there might be no link between the possible US visa exemptions for Israelis and the pilot program for Palestinian-Americans in Israel.
