Official meets Israel-based Christian Zionist groups amid cutback on visas

After three years of increasing pressure on international Christian Zionist groups based in Israel around staff visas, Population Administration Director General Eyal Sisso met on Tuesday with the leaders of three organizations to discuss a solution, the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem tells The Times of Israel.

Bridges for Peace and Christian Friends of Israel were also at the meeting.

Since 2020, the Interior Ministry has been cutting back on clergy visas, and tightening the criteria for volunteer staff visas, ICEJ spokesman David Parsons explains.

Sisso, who until recently headed the Foreign Ministry’s Consular division, tells the groups that the prior arrangements will be respected until a long-term policy is finalized.

“We are very grateful that our support for Israel is appreciated across the government,” says Parsons.

The Christian groups had met with Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in April, when he pledged his help in finding a solution.