From the Liveblog of
Monday, January 30, 2023
Knesset speaker meets US official to discuss meeting next visa waiver deadlines
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
After the US announces that Israel managed to get below the 3% visa rejection rate — a key step in joining the US Visa Waiver Program — a senior US Homeland Security official meets with Israeli leaders about ensuring that the government fulfills the remaining requirements before the September deadline.
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana says he met with Homeland Security Department Undersecretary for Strategy Robert P. Silvers, and agreed that the two countries would work together to complete outstanding legislation by the end of March.
The Knesset goes into recess in April, and US officials are concerned Israel will miss its window to join the VWP if it doesn’t wrap up legislation and establish the necessary computerized systems to share information with the US.
Silvers also meets with National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, the Prime Minister’s Office tells The Times of Israel.
