The U.S.-Israeli “strategic partnership bill” that the House of Representatives passed this week to a road of approval from the Jewish community was approved only after the elimination of one item Israel has sought for years – vial-free travel rights to the United States.
The bill, which the Senate passed in September and awaits President Barack Obama’s signature, only allows Israel to be part of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program is offers the same rights to all Americans.
Israel is not ready to give blanket visas to American Arabs who are security threats to the country, even though discriminating against suspected terrorists violates the sensitivities of many American legislators’ sense of “human rights.”
On the plus side, the new law adds $200 million to the amount of emergency weapons for Israel, which now is $1.8 a year, and promotes more cooperation between Israel and the United States in the fields of energy, alternative fuel technology and security, including cybersecurity.