Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir Cancels US Trip Due to Visa Issues

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has reportedly cancelled his planned trip to the United States after facing serious obstacles in the visa application process, fuelling speculation of strained diplomatic relations between the right-wing official and Washington. Israeli media outlet Haaretz reported that the US Embassy in Jerusalem requested Ben-Gvir to appear in person to provide biometric data, specifically fingerprints, as part of the visa requirements—a procedure rarely applied strictly to high-ranking officials of ministerial level. The biometric requirement sparked speculation in local media about a potential reluctance on the part of the US to grant entry to the controversial politician. Prior to the visa issue emerging, Ben-Gvir’s planned visit to Miami to attend the wedding of an Israeli businessman’s daughter had already drawn domestic criticism. Ben-Gvir initially requested that the businessman cover all travel expenses, but the proposal came under intense scrutiny from Israel’s financial oversight body due to potential ethics violations and graft. Following public pressure, Ben-Gvir stated he would finance the trip personally before the plan was ultimately scrapped entirely. No official statement has yet been issued by the US Embassy or Ben-Gvir’s office regarding the specific reasons behind the stringent visa procedure. However, analysts assess the US request for biometric data as a form of ‘cold messaging’ towards Ben-Gvir. As an extreme right-wing figure, Ben-Gvir frequently makes provocative statements concerning the Al-Aqsa Mosque and policies in the occupied Palestinian territories, often contradicting the official stance of the United States. This cancellation adds to a growing list of tensions between hardline elements within Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet and the Biden administration.