Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday dismissed calls to implement measures that would prevent Israelis from leaving the country, calling the demand "anti-Zionist" in nature.
Netanyahu made the remarks during a cabinet discussion on Israel's efforts to be accepted into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center) during this week's cabinet meeting on Sunday
(Photo: Jonathan Zindel)
If accepted, Israel's nationals would be eligible to enter the U.S. on a tourist visa issued upon their arrival at border points of entry without having to apply months prior to arrival.
Further Knesset legislation is still needed, after Netanyahu blocked the required laws from being passed during his time in the Opposition.
The prime minister in his comments was responding to concerns raised by his coalition partner Bezalel Smotrich, from the Religious Zionist party, who said Israelis may leave the country if entry to the U.S. is made easier.
"Israel is getting stronger. We will pass the U.S. in growth after we've already passed Europe," Netanyahu said. "We will see to it that immigration from the West because of better economic conditions - grows.
"It is true that there is a rise in antisemitism, but that will not be the only reason immigrants will arrive. There will be a large surge in immigration. Our policy is to forth ahead and make use of this window of opportunity," he said.
Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who had served as Israel's ambassador to the U.S. for the past seven years, said there was a window of a few months to pass the necessary legislation and be accepted into the program. "The current U.S. ambassador is keen to help us," he said. "We may not be able to enter the program at a later date."