"Israel's Visa Waiver Hinges on Palestinian-American Access Test"

Israel's bid to join the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) depends on a month-long trial starting on Thursday, where Israeli authorities will grant unrestricted passage to U.S. citizens of Palestinian origin residing in the West Bank. Israel has sought access to the VWP for its citizens, but restrictions on entry for Palestinian-Americans from the Israeli-occupied West Bank have hindered progress. If the trial goes smoothly, Israeli citizens could benefit from the VWP starting in October. A U.S. delegation will observe the trial, and their findings will be submitted before a September 30 deadline. The trial will also assess whether Palestinian-Americans face selective questioning by Israeli security personnel.