it must be emphasised that americans do not need visas to enter israel, wheres israelis are required a passport to enter the us. americans who are denied entry to israel are so denied because they are considered security risks. the united states denies visas to israelis purely based on their nationality. obama is punishing israelis because their government will not accept obama's demands that the jewish state give up territories to the arab palestinians, including large parts of jerusalem.

Half of Israel would empty out in a week if the US ever did away with a visa requirement. As a result of hundreds of thousands of Israelis descending on every American mall, AHAVA sales would skyrocket. Real Estate prices in Israel would plummet causing massive suicide among the rich and powerful. NGOs supporting Israeli emigration to the US, funded by George Soros, Norway, Ireland, Sweden and Germany would fund most of the one way tickets. Nefesh B'Nefesh Olim would be able to fly First Class on the returning empty planes. The sign at Ben Gurion Airport would be changed from "Tzeitchem B'shalom' (Go in Peace), to "Will the last one out, please turn off the lights".

Message to post army Israelis . . You would be most welcome in NZ. It's a much more beautiful and welcoming country and you would feel very much at home . .

Most of us would rather live in our homeland. Anyhow, I wonder how many Iranians and Iraqis are allowed into the states, or Afghanis... sort of the equivalent to allowing Muslims from enemy areas into Israel, I would say. The USA (not America, which includes other countries) has a double standard no doubt about it. In more ways than visa issues.

Message to post army Israelis . . You would be most welcome in NZ. It's a much more beautiful and welcoming country and you would feel very much at home . .

According to US State Department data, 9.7 percent of Israelis (12,000 people) who applied for tourist visas in 2013 were denied, up from 5.4 percent of requests that were rejected in 2012 and 2.5 percent that were refused in 2007. If you were to look closer at the numbers of those being rejected, you will find most are 20-30 years olds and have not held a full time job with steady income for at least two years (one of the requirements). The reason for the increased percentage is simply demographics. There are more Israeli citizens applying for visas in that age group every year. I believe there should be a visa waiver for Israelis employed for more than two years with American and multi-national companies. Everyone else should get to the back of the line on Rechov Hayarkon 71.

it is high time we stopped cowering in front of the americans and their arrogant administration, after all nobody else listens to them any more. anyway, just this once, let's do as they ask: they want reciprocity? well, we can immediately comply and introduce the requirement of a visa for american citizens wanting to enter Eretz Israel.

there are four times as many people who are denied visas to the us today as there were in 2007. in 2007 the president was bush, the president today is obama. obama hates israel and israelis, especially israelis who had served in the idf. such israelis threaten his fragile ego since he had never served nor did he ever held a real job.

you know the rules..adhere to it. The US won't change it's visa laws just because it would suit Israel. It lays down the law and either you agree and get let in or you don't. And let's not make it a oh Obama is so vengeful topic shall we?

after the US closed it doors to Jews looking to flee Europe before and after the Holocaust, but this does not surprise me, anyone who thinks that anti semitism is not alive in the US is surely in denial

forget that women in Saudia can't vote or even drive. Forget that Europe abandoned the US several times, forget that Russia and China are spitting in obama's face at every turn. ISRAEL is the world's problem. If those nasty jews would only give over to terrorism the world would be safe and all rainbows and unicorns....what a putz he is punishing us for his failures....

folks in. After having (twice!) voted Terrorist No.1 into the Oval Office I'd think the US is royally screwed as is.....and so is the rest of the World: Witness the daily events all over the globe.

"you know the rules" yes, indeed, i know the rules. the rules for tourist visas are simple and do not give reasons for refusing visas to israelis.

Are you serious? Obama is not a racist and has as much to do with visa laws as you have a say in Israeli policy towards Africans " infiltrators". The bottom line is most Israeli's in the 20-30 age group come to work in the malls to earn double or triple they could earn back in Israel and also to finance there travels. It is illegal and the US government recognizes the problem and is being pro-active.

Within the next few years the US (as well as Russia) is unfortunately doomed to a major collapse - financial and political. Hardly anyone then will be interested in the american visa.

This sentence " closest US ally " is really asleeping pill for the israeli public ; Actually the current Obama administration is Israel closest ennemy.BhO has given Iran a free ride to build nukes whose no.1 target are israel and he has refused to sell the GBU bunker-buster bombs .Bho-Hagel are copy of the FDR-John Mc Cloy team in WW II.FDR who met in 1943 Jan Karski the polish hero fighter and eye witness of the Shoah asked him about the condition of horses in Poland , FDR was not interested in the jewish plight .Same with John Mc Cloy who opposed bombing the gas chambers and the railroad lines to Auschwitz when british bombers attacked Buna-Monowitz factories 3 km away.Obama-Hagel are a sinister copy of FDR-J.Mc Cloy ( and US stupid jews are still in love for Obama !)

visa applicants must prove that they have means of support in the us, that they have a return ticket, that they have sufficient connection to israel. however, there are many israelis who provide all proves but are denied entry visas. the claim that israelis come to work in the us is discriminatory and essentially unproven. the obama administration has denied visas on purpose to israelis, especially those who had served in the idf, to put pressure on the government of the jewish state. israel should reciprocate by demanding that the us reduce its huge embassy in israel which serves only to spy on the jewish state.

But young Saudis or Egyptians can travel to the United States pretty much at will, and start terrorist cells, and the State Department barely yawns. Are you somehow seized of the impression that all those Arab falafel sellers and cab drivers are legal residents of the United States? You need to revise your impressions.

It isn't about unpleasant treatment of Arab-Americans: Israeli security are much nicer than Obama's TSA. It also isn't about illegal employment: Obama is doing everything he can to encourage and legalize illegal immigrants from Mexico. In fact, each month more Mexicans illegally enter the US then there are 20-30 year old Israelis. Face it: CJK and Frank are right.

All countries have problems with illegals, however I would like to say not as much as the US. The US has an estimated 20 million illegals out of a population of 300 million. Israeli account for a very tiny amount of illegals, however the US government knows that the majority of 20-30 year old's arrive in the US for employment and that's a fact. Most are out of the army and you can't save much money on a $110.00 a month salary, so how else to finance your travels?

That it doesnt provide our youth with honored work, so as they need to do illegal things abroad! Shame shame shame for our jewish country!

Yet not be able to enter the US. Also with a waiver e-visa as an Italian citizen, it doesn't mean I can enter the US. I can be rejected entrance upon arrival. It's like a job interview. You can have all the qualifications needed on the paper and still be denied the job. Diplomacy works both ways. American doesn't have to let Israeli in if Israel makes trouble to let Americans in

...to pressure Bibi into doing what is NOT in Israel's best interest. Creation of internal pressure as a cynical political move that is going to have nasty results on the internal ***U.S.***body politic. Mostly Democrat orientation, who accept this BEE ESS as acceptable political behavior.

How is EU Saudi Egypt England all the other nations trite the Israeli citizens .. Obama be gone soon and his jihadist government. disappear ...and people of America take back the nation ... No visas to Israel to Obama and Kerry.. Keep them out of Israel ..they Not friend of us ..

Be glad it is not the easiest to enter the US, otherwise nobody would be left to sweep the streets. Anyhow, my cousins are coming for a visit this summer. From what I know, they had no problems getting an American visa at the embassy in Israel.

That you didn't take George W Bush to task when he was President on the visa waiver programme. Could give the impression that you object not because Obama is President, you object because of the colour of his skin. Meanwhile back in the real world, the Americans have given Israel the solution to enable them to be included in the Visa Waiver programme. Perhaps you should devote more energy in pressuring our politicians to come to some favourable solutions, which will enable our youth to go travel to AMericaland without a visa

Do you really believe in what you just said? It's nonsense. Nobody is going to do what you think. Some people always will try to get somewhere and work there illegally simply because they think that it's better, but soon they'll realise that it's not. As long as you are illegal no mater where you are below the bottom of society and it's really not pleasant situation. One can handle it for some time but sooner or later will break and go home. I also don't know what people trying to tell here. I've got my visa at the age of 22 and never had any issue with entering the US. I am an average israeli citizen with average income and i even don't rent or own an apartment. The interview was simple and really quick. I did hear some people standing in the embassy and being rejected because of some bad history with the US. Like one guy got arrested in the US during one of his trips and US simply didn't want to see him anywhere near, or another girl didn't leave on time so they also decided not to grant her new visa. I didn't see anybody denied for no real reason.

I lived in US and Canada and I can say this: Many Many Israeli criminals are entering and trying to enter both countries. One of their favorite businesses is establishing kiosks at the shopping malls, using lies and fake documents. Police kicking them out, but they keep coming. They are creating a very bad image for Israel. They are a mole on Israel's face. Who's fault this is ? Of course Israel's own fault. Israel's rotten judicial system has raised these criminals, who are exporting their crimes all over the world. US and Canada should put even more restrictions, to make tougher rules on young Israelis to travel there.

Can you blame the Americans? Experience has shown them that most Israelis trying to enter the USA have criminal intent on their minds. Even the ones selling cheap bath salts in the malls are going to try to stiff some poor soul out of their change after a sale. When an Israel tries to rent a room in my hotel I tell the staff to count the towels every day. The staff got so tired of Israelis I told them it was fine to tell they there are no vacancies.

Israel needs to wean itself from false dependence and assert itself militarily and strategically rather than just act in defensive reaction.