Progressives Raise Alarm On Anti-Arab Discrimination In Israel’s Visa Waiver Program

At least 20 House Democrats are demanding increased transparency over reports that Israel is not treating all U.S. citizens equally, as first reported by HuffPost.

At least 20 House Democrats have sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demanding transparency and accountability related to reports of Muslim and Arab Americans ― particularly Palestinians ― facing discrimination under Israel’s Visa Waiver program.

In the Friday letter first obtained by HuffPost and spearheaded by Reps. Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.) and Summer Lee (Penn.), the lawmakers expressed concern about Israel not complying with the Visa Waiver Program’s requirements established last year. The program lets Israeli citizens enter the U.S. visa-free for up to 90 days for business, tourism or transit ― in return, all U.S. citizens can request visa-free entry into Israel under the same terms.

One of the program’s main requirements is that both the U.S. and Israel maintain reciprocal treatment of their citizens. This means that all citizens of one country who have applied through the program to enter the other country must be treated equally regardless of ethnicity, religion and national origin.

But with mounting reports that Israel has been discriminating against Muslim and Arab Americans trying to enter the country, Thursday’s letter calls for more transparency into the program, as well as additional documentation on Israel’s compliance ― and if violations persist, a suspension of Israel’s participation.

“The Visa Waiver Program is a privilege, not a right,” Lee said in a statement about the program, which the U.S. uses with about 40 other countries. “Reports of Muslim and Arab Americans being subjected to invasive questioning, discriminatory barriers, and systemic exclusion are deeply troubling and undermine the integrity of the program.”