Travel between Israel and the US is now easier! On September 27, the US formally admitted Israel into its Visa Waiver Program (VWP), allowing Israeli travelers to visit the US for business or pleasure for up to 90 days without a visa. This is a huge milestone for the US-Israel relationship and for Hadassah. Hadassah is proud to have played an important role in advocating for Israel’s entry.
Hadassah National President Rhoda Smolow and CEO Naomi Adler issued the following statement:
“Hadassah celebrates Israel’s historic acceptance into the US Visa Waiver Program, for which our members strongly advocated. Israel’s participation will further strengthen the US-Israel alliance, accelerate the cultural exchange between the two nations and make it easier for doctors at the Hadassah Medical Organization to collaborate with US colleagues to advance shared goals, share best practices face-to-face, and advance critical medical research. For Hadassah’s youth programs and the beloved Young Judaea youth movement, this move will facilitate greater interaction between American and Israeli young people and lower participation barriers for counselors and educators.”
For over a year, Hadassah has urged the Biden Administration to work toward including Israel in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Hadassah's grassroots advocates urged their elected officials to support Israel’s admission into the program. At the same time, Hadassah National President Rhoda Smolow and CEO Naomi Adler wrote letters to the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, outlining how Israel’s acceptance would serve the economies of both countries while advancing cultural understanding.
For Hadassah, Israel’s admission will have tangible benefits for accelerating health and medical innovation, training and collaborative research. HMO doctors who are invited to partner with US-based colleagues to advance shared goals, attend conferences, speak at panel discussions or complete important trainings have at times been excluded from participating in these opportunities due to the slow and difficult visa-procurement process. With Israel’s acceptance into the program, HMO doctors will no longer face these barriers.
Israelis also play a large part in Hadassah and Young Judaea youth programs, serving as counselors, educators and role models. Israel’s admission into the Visa Waiver Program will help facilitate additional cultural exchange and lower barriers to participation in these programs.
Hadassah applauds efforts on both sides to facilitate the extension of reciprocal privileges for all American travelers and Israel's inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program. This moment marks a big milestone in the US-Israel relationship and will strengthen Hadassah’s ability to provide health care to all and support the global Jewish community.