Israel Blocks Some Palestinian Americans From Entering From West Bank

Source: New York Times

Israel Blocks Some Palestinian Americans From Entering From West Bank

Eileen Sullivan, Edward Wong and Patrick Kingsley
Thu, November 16, 2023 at 1:58 PM EST·5 min read

WASHINGTON — Israel is preventing some Palestinian Americans from entering the country from the West Bank, an apparent violation of a recent agreement in which citizens from the United States and Israel can travel to the other nation without a visa.

The Homeland Security and State departments, which manage the program, said U.S. officials were trying to resolve the issue.

“U.S. government officials are working with the government of Israel to address reports of Americans facing issues in traveling to and flying out of Ben-Gurion Airport,” said Erin Heeter, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security.

The arrangement, announced in late September, before the war began, was part of a larger effort toward improving relations between the two countries. At the time, President Joe Biden was making a push to broker a diplomatic deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Under the visa waiver program, Israel would lift restrictions on Palestinian Americans and other Americans of Arab or Muslim descent, easing the way for them to travel to and from Palestinian territories.

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Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/israel-blocks-palestinian-americans-entering-185837157.html

Original NYT link (paywall): https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/16/us/politics/israel-palestinian-americans-west-bank.html