US Ambassador Mike Huckabee announced this week that a visa dispute affecting American evangelical organizations operating in Israel has been “fully resolved,” following high‑level intervention involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s Interior Ministry.
The issue originated in January when Israel implemented changes in visa procedures for Christian groups—altering decades‑old norms. Ambassador Huckabee says these led to “serious challenges bureaucratically and financially,” including increased delays, paperwork costs, and application burdens. Initial adjustments proposed by Interior Minister Moshe Arbel were insufficient, prompting Huckabee to escalate the matter to the Prime Minister Office.
Huckabee made his announcement on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “I am delighted to report that the issue has been resolved to everyone’s satisfaction, and the strong support that Israel enjoys from American evangelicals will continue.” He praised Interior Minister Arbel for his personal intervention, observing that the minister was initially “not fully aware” of the impact of the new rules.
Senior Christian groups in Israel, such as the Baptist Convention of Israel, Christian Missionary Alliance, and Assemblies of God, had complained that new visa validation processes for clergy required long questionnaires and investigations—unprecedented scrutiny that disrupted mission planning. According to attorney Calev Myers, representing approximately 150 Christian organizations, the agreement restores the “streamlined and efficient application process” that has operated for years.
Reports indicate the visa delays stemmed from a low‑level Interior Ministry official implementing new vetting procedures. Fox News cited sources blaming unstable leadership in the Population and Immigration Authority, noting that consistent policy previously depended on staff who have since moved on. Minister Arbel confirmed that he has ordered reinforcements and process oversight to prevent recurrence.
Netanyahu’s office backed the resolution, with sources telling Jewish Insider that Israel has “absolutely no interest in undermining the freedom” of Christian workers and pilgrims. The PMO has committed to restoring the historic norms.
The swift resolution of the crisis underscores the importance of US–Israeli evangelical ties. American evangelicals are the primary support base for Israel in the US, and the dispute sparked a candid warning from Huckabee—threatening reciprocal visa scrutiny if not resolved.
The development also highlights the need for Israel’s internal bureaucracy to be more aware and sensitive in regards to critical Christian support for the Jewish state. “When support for Israel around the world – and in the US – is under pressure, backing from our Christian friends is extremely important,” former Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Oren told Fox News Digital.
For now, all parties agree: what began as a bureaucratic shift has been corrected, restoring smooth entry for evangelical missions—an outcome praised by Huckabee as “a welcome outcome among friends.”
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