"American move on the way to eliminating the need for a visa to enter the United States - Tom Nides, US Ambassador to Israel, asked to speak with the opposition chairman, Benjamin Netanyahu, in order to pressure him to pass the legislation needed to further promote visas for Israelis. His personal project and one of the highlights of his tenure as ambassador.
Israel Today has learned that the embassy is exerting exceptional pressure on members of the opposition in order to allow the move to continue.
Among other things, today (Wednesday) Mobile was observed in the Knesset, apparently with the aim of exerting pressure on the issue.
In order to include Israel in the list of countries whose citizens are exempt from the need to issue a visa, Americans must be allowed partial access to the country's criminal record databases.
In contacts between Washington and Jerusalem it was agreed that the approach would be reciprocal, and that each side would be able to submit up to a thousand queries a year regarding the criminal record of the citizens of the other state.
Such a move requires primary legislation in the Knesset, and a few weeks ago Netanyahu confirmed to embassy staff that the Likud would support the law - despite the boycott imposed by the opposition on government legislative initiatives.
However, after the early elections it was decided to oppose the move so as not to give an achievement to the government.
Negotiations are underway between the opposition and the coalition, with the Likud refusing to support the visa law until its demands regarding the exact election date have been met.
Meanwhile, Israel Today has learned that US President Biden's preliminary staff will arrive in Israel after US Independence Day, which falls on July 4, to prepare for the president's visit. It is likely that Biden will meet with Netanyahu during the visit. Because a meeting with the chairman of the opposition is part of the protocol used in a presidential visit.
Biden will land in Israel in the afternoon or evening of July 13 and will be received at Ben Gurion Airport by State A staff, which will include President Herzog and the Prime Minister, who will most likely be Yair Lapid.
The next day he will visit Yad Vashem, meet with the Prime Minister and the President, visit Mount Herzl and end with a formal dinner or a reception at the President's House.
Apparently during the visit he will also meet with the athletes of the American delegation to Maccabiah and visit the Iron Dome battery.
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