At Washington event, US and Israeli officials cheer Israel’s entry to visa waiver program

In the presence of US and Israeli officials, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas holds an event in Washington to mark Israel’s entry to the US Visa Waiver Program after a years-long push.

Speaking at the ceremony, Israeli Ambassador Michael Herzog recalls a meeting he held two years with Mayorkas during which the latter pledged that Israel would be admitted to the program.

“Two years later, he indeed honored his promise,” Herzog is quoted saying in a statement from the Israeli embassy.

According to the Hebrew-language statement, Mayorkas says the move “is an important recognition of our joint security interests and the close cooperation between our countries.”

Alongside the event in the US, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosts a ceremony at his office in Jerusalem to celebrate Israel’s entry.