The last necessary agreement for Israel to join the US Visa Waiver Program was signed on Thursday morning by Public Security Minister Omer Bar Lev and US Deputy Ambassador to Israel Jonathan Shrier and witnessed by Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked.
As part of the agreement, both countries will be allowed to check fingerprints from each other’s country’s citizens 1,000 times a year and request information on citizens with severe criminal backgrounds.
In order for it to come into effect, the Knesset has to pass Israel’s entry into the program in three readings.
“That’s it, all the agreements have been signed, now we just need to pass it in Knesset,” said Shaked.
“Even though the Likud is trying to delay the exemption for visas for Israelis that is in the most advanced stage it’s ever been in, we are continuing to run with it as well as advancing more agreements that are a condition for entering the waiver program.
“I am committing to continuing to advance this important task and intend on demanding that we keep working on it even after the elections in order to give Israel’s citizens the good news they’ve been waiting for.”
“This agreement is strategically important for Israel,” said Bar Lev. “The agreement will organize mechanism to strengthen the cooperation between Israel and the US in everything to do with the war against crime and terror.”
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