


The Biden administration will allow Israelis to fly into the United States without a visa following the Hamas-waged terror attack on the U.S. ally.
The Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday that it would immediately waive the visa requirement for certain Israeli citizens who wish to travel to the U.S. on a short-term basis amid the conflict with Hamas-controlled Gaza.
UNITED AIRLINES TRIES TO SPEED UP BOARDING PROCESS WITH NEW SYSTEM
Subsequently, Israel pledged to the U.S. that it would allow all U.S. citizens with valid documents to enter without question.
"Israel has committed in writing to the United States that all U.S. citizens traveling with a U.S. passport may seek to enter Israel without regard to national origin, religion, or ethnicity," DHS said in a statement. "The United States continuously monitors implementation of program requirements by all Visa Waiver Program countries, including Israel, to ensure that they remain in good standing with all program requirements."
The agreement was in the works prior to the Oct. 7 terror attack that Hamas militants waged against Israelis at a music festival and beyond, which has resulted in more than 1,400 Israeli deaths, 4,500 injuries, and 200 missing people since then, according to the Israeli Defense Forces.
Israel joins 40 countries that are a part of the State Department's U.S. Visa Waiver Program. Applicants in any of those 41 countries may apply to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business for up to 90 days.
Israeli citizens and permanent residents may apply for permission to visit the U.S. through U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Electronic System for Travel Authorization.
Screenings through CBP may take up to three days and are only being done in English for now, but they will be available in unspecified other languages starting no later than Nov. 1.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Amid concern from lawmakers over the threat that terrorism poses to the U.S., the DHS added that all applicants would be screened against U.S. criminal and terrorism databases.
"DHS uses the application data to vet travelers before granting authorization to travel to the United States," the department said in a statement. "As part of this vetting process, information that identifies suspected or known violators of the law and other persons of concern will be provided to the appropriate law enforcement, national security, and/or counterterrorism agency."