Israel has softened the rules regarding the entry of foreign citizens into the U.S., the US is still not satisfied.
Last night (Sunday), the US Ambassador to Israel, Tom Neides, published a rather aggressive statement regarding the revised rules established by the Coordinator of Government Operations in the Territories regarding the entry of non-Israeli citizens into Area A. He described that government representatives are deeply involved in the discussions that have been taking place since February regarding the entry rules, and will continue to do so This is during the next 45 days until their implementation on October 20, as well as in the two years defined as a pilot for these rules.
According to Neidas, he still has concerns, “especially regarding the role of the Palestinian Authority in determining whether people invited by Palestinian academic institutions are eligible to enter the West Bank, and the potential negative impact on family unity.” I fully expect the Government of Israel to make the necessary adjustments during the pilot period to ensure transparency, as well as fair and equitable treatment of all US. citizens and other foreign nationals traveling to the West Bank,” Neides wrote.
Yesterday, the coordinator of government operations in the territories published updated procedures regarding the entry and stay of foreigners in Judea and Samaria. According to the Oslo Accords, it was determined that a foreign citizen who wishes to enter PA territories will be required to hold a visit permit issued by the Palestinians, with the approval of the Israeli side. This is so that Israel can verify in a certain way that hostile elements are not based in the Palestinian Authority.
Until February of this year, there were no rules for how to apply for such a visit permit. The Ministry of Defense, together with the Ministry of the Interior and Defense, worked for a period of time to formulate an orderly procedure, which was published for the first time in February. The initial draft of the procedures was criticized by international authorities, and yesterday a revised procedure was published which, as mentioned, will enter into a pilot for two years. The changes in the version published yesterday, concern the need for The applicant for admission should inform in advance about the marital relationship he maintains with a Palestinian resident of the Palestinian Authority, the amount of the living stipend that determines who is considered a volunteer (increased from six thousand dollars per year to nine thousand dollars) and quotas for the number of visas intended for academic lecturers and students have been abolished. It should be noted that if there is a change in the marital status of the visitor, that is, he will marry a Palestinian during his stay, he will have to inform about this as part of the application for renewal or extension of the visa.
In the background of these things is also the procedure Israel is in – on its way to being included in the list of countries whose citizens are exempt from visas for entering the US. Apparently, countries included in the list sign a reciprocity agreement under which American citizens will be able to enter their country without a visa. The Americans expect such reciprocity that also includes the treatment of American citizens who wish to enter the territories of the Palestinian Authority. So apparently, if Israel is indeed included in the list of visa-exempt countries, it will not be able to apply any procedures regarding holders of American citizenship who aspire to enter the territories of A.