Drama erupted Monday night between the US administration and the Foreign Ministry in Israel, following the festive announcement issued on behalf of the ministry and its head, Minister Eli Cohen, about the visa exemption.
Now it's official: U.S. visa waiver as early as November//Department of State
The Foreign Ministry reported that this coming Thursday, the United States is expected to approve the decision to allow Israeli tourists to enter the United States without the obligation to issue a visa. Israel Hayom has learned that the clarification statement by the spokesman of the US Embassy in Israel was also preceded by steps taken by the Foreign Ministry itself.
The U.S. Embassy in Israel sent a statement to the Foreign Ministry with a strong message against the festive announcement issued last night. Among other things, it said that as long as the Israeli media speculates, that's one thing, but the fact that an Israeli minister publishes more details about the entry into the program even before the United States has had the last word is a "surprising and disappointing" event.
The U.S. Embassy in Israel sent a strong message. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
In fact, the US administration viewed the solemn announcement sent last night by the State Department in a grave light, because the next steps to be taken this week in the US are supposed to conclude the entry event into the visa program, not an Israeli announcement. Among other things, in the coming days the United States is expected to "consider" Israel's entry into the program, and towards the end of the week to hold the official event, which will be signed by Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas. While Israel knew the full details, the U.S. expected them not to become public knowledge before the ceremony and announcement.
The disappointment in the United States over the step taken by the Foreign Ministry and its head reached its peak this morning, despite the fact that Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, also welcomed the end of the process last week. There have also been reports in Israel that included details of the end and signing of Israel's entry into the visa program this week.
The credit war has reached its climax. (Illustration, US visa), photo: Ami Shumen
The credit war over ending the process, which began under the previous government, came to a head when the Foreign Ministry issued a detailed statement last night. It seems that the fact that the foreign minister made the reports official, and even took them a step further with an announcement about when the process is expected to end (November), is what caused the anger in the United States.
Israel Hayom was informed that following the strong message conveyed to the Foreign Ministry this morning, a conversation was held between a senior official in the ministry and the US embassy, during which things were clarified and tempers calmed. The incident of the past 24 hours did not harm American intentions, and indeed, towards the end of the week, Israel is supposed to officially enter the visa exemption program. It was also learned that after the official American announcement, the government is planning an official press conference to be held a few hours after the American announcement led by Prime Minister Netanyahu.
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