The State Department and the Ambassador Tom Nides has been working with the Israeli government over the past year to help Israel qualify, as there are several requirements that always threw Israel for a loop. One of the main requirements is a low percentage of mistakes on visa applications - below 3%. Israeli applications seem to normally come back with much higher numbers than that, and that prevents, among other things, Israel for qualifying for the visa exemption. This year because of the past year's low travel rate, the Embassy has been able to help Israelis fill out the form properly and keep the mistakes to almost definitely below the cutoff line.
It seems the only thing holding up the arrangement is the Likud not wanting the current government to get this accomplishment, so they are opposing the arrangement and has voted and continues to vote against it. Nides has reportedly pleaded with Netanyahu to not hold up the legislation, saying cancelling it now could throw away the best, and maybe only, chance for this exemption to go through.
It seems the only thing holding up the arrangement is the Likud not wanting the current government to get this accomplishment, so they are opposing the arrangement and has voted and continues to vote against it. Nides has reportedly pleaded with Netanyahu to not hold up the legislation, saying cancelling it now could throw away the best, and maybe only, chance for this exemption to go through.
Be that as it may, the Likud put out a statement saying that they are opposing the legislation because the current legislation violates the privacy of Israelis, and when they form the government they will pass the legislation properly (though they didnt bother doing this over the 12 consecutive years they ran the government until last year).
That is funny considering how the Likud government sold the privacy (not really but probably about as much as this legislation does) of Israelis in 2020 when he gave it away as part of the deal to buy the COVID-19 vaccinations.
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reining in not reigning in.
ReplyDeleteThe quick answer is this: the phrase you want is rein in. It's an equestrian allusion—if you rein in a horse, you pull the reins of the horse—the straps fastened to the bit of a bridle and used by a rider or driver to guide and control the horse—tight so that you control where the horse goes and how fast. -Merriam-webster
There is a major difference in approaches taken to resolve this issue. Previous Likud Governments kept requesting that the Americans provide an exemption to some of the rules. The current Government took the steps to make sure that they would be in compliance with requirements to qualify for the program.
ReplyDeleteso the plan is to go back to the old method that never worked?
DeleteEither they are going to try to push for the exemption, which will work this time because they have a 'Right Wing' Government or they will pass the same legislation again but it will be better because it will be passed by a much better 'Right Wing' Government. They have proven with other legislation that a delay of months or years is worth it, to be passed by a better Government.
ReplyDeleteWhat's sad is that people actually believe that.
Delete