"US Grants Visa-Free Travel to Israelis, Confirms Israel's Foreign Minister"

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen announced that the United States will allow Israeli citizens to travel visa-free to the country, as Israel is set to join the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP) in November. However, this decision has faced criticism from Arab-American civil rights advocates due to concerns about Israel's treatment of Palestinian- and Arab-American travelers. The VWP requires reciprocity, meaning countries in the program must allow visa-free travel for American citizens. Critics doubt whether Israel will uphold its commitments, citing instances where US citizens of Palestinian and Arab descent have been denied entry by Israeli authorities. The decision, if confirmed, has been condemned as endorsing discrimination and apartheid by rights advocates.