Israelis may be able to travel to the United States without obtaining a visa if Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit gets his way. Sheetrit met with U.S. Officials on Thursday to discuss the matter, and the two sides agreed to meet again after the holidays.
America's main demand is that Israeli citizens carry biometric passports. Israel's current passports are easily forged, American officials say, and some criminal and terrorist organizations have forged Israeli passports ready for use. Israel's government has approved the creation of biometric passports, but the Knesset has yet to create a law requiring citizens to use them—a process which could take several months.