Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir canceled a scheduled visit to the United States, amid Israeli reports about the complications he faced in obtaining an American visa due to his judicial past.
According to Israeli media, the US embassy asked Ben Gvir to appear in person, submit his fingerprints, and conduct an interview as part of the visa application procedures, in a step that media reports linked to his previous judicial record.
Israeli Channel 12 reported that the hard-line right-wing minister had already undergone an interview and submitted his fingerprints, but he later decided to cancel the trip, justifying this with fears that the visa would not be issued in time.
Ben Gvir sparked additional controversy after he said that all Israelis wishing to obtain an American visa were required to submit their fingerprints, which was questioned by Israeli media.
In its response to the reports, Ben Gvir’s office explained that he voluntarily gave up the use of a diplomatic passport, because the bulk of the visit was of a personal nature, and therefore applied for a regular visa.
The case coincided with other reports indicating that Ben Gvir was planning to attend a family event in the United States, and that an Israeli businessman residing in Miami was going to cover part of the trip’s expenses, but a committee specialized in monitoring conflicts of interest rejected this arrangement.
Ben Gvir is known as one of the most controversial figures in the Israeli political arena. Over the past years, he has faced internal and international criticism because of his positions and statements. He also has a record of previous judicial convictions inside Israel.
This issue comes at a time when relations between the administration of US President Donald Trump and some pillars of the extreme Israeli right are witnessing increasing differences against the backdrop of several regional files, most notably Iran and Lebanon.
