By Hammad Kahlun
Scandinavian news Finland
Fingerprint Requirement Leads to Travel Cancellation
JERUSALEM Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has canceled an upcoming family trip to the United States following unexpected complications with his travel visa application, according to multiple Israeli media reports.
The US Trip Embassy in Jerusalem reportedly required Ben-Gvir to appear in person to provide biometric fingerprints and answer questions regarding his past criminal convictions as a condition for receiving the entry permit.
The far-right minister ultimately decided to scrap the planned visit, reportedly telling close associates he was concerned the required paperwork would not be processed in time for his scheduled flight.
Disputes Over the Purpose of the Visit
The cancellation has triggered significant domestic discussion regarding the nature of the travel and the protocols applied to sitting government officials.
According to a report by Channel 13, Ben-Gvir’s office released a statement claiming the trip was intended to be primarily personal.
The statement noted that the minister chose to use a regular tourist visa rather than a diplomatic passport because he did not want to “exploit his official status.”
However, local media outlets highlighted inconsistencies in this explanation.
Israeli journalist Chaim Levinson observed that Ben-Gvir had previously petitioned the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court to delay a scheduled defamation hearing by explicitly citing the “diplomatic importance” of the upcoming US Trip travel.
Furthermore, earlier reporting indicated that the trip’s expenses, totaling tens of thousands of shekels, were initially intended to be covered by a Miami-based businessman whose daughter’s wedding the minister planned to attend.
The State Comptroller Permits Committee, which oversees ethics and conflicts of interest, later ruled against allowing the associate to fund the travel.
Diplomatic Context and Visa Protocols
Under standard Trip diplomatic protocols, government ministers traveling on official state business are generally eligible for diplomatic visas that bypass routine biometric screening, such as fingerprinting.
The decision by US Trip authorities to enforce standard processing rules signaled a strict approach to the minister’s application.
While ordinary Israeli citizens are frequently eligible for expedited travel authorization to the US Trip under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) visa waiver program, this eligibility is conditional upon having no prior criminal record.
Ben-Gvir has multiple past convictions in Israel, including charges related to disturbing the peace, incitement to racism, and supporting a banned organization.
These past legal issues are believed to be the primary reason US Trip consular authorities initiated the more rigorous screening process.
Neither the US Embassy in Jerusalem nor the US Department of State has issued an official comment on the specific details of the minister’s visa application, citing standard privacy policies regarding individual visa cases.
Read the full report on how Israel’s Ben-Gvir cancels US trip due to unforeseen consular issues.”
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