TEL AVIV — Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has canceled an upcoming family trip to the United States after he was required by the US embassy to arrive in person and provide his fingerprints as a condition for receiving a visa, according Israeli media on Tuesday.
The unusual move requiring Ben-Gvir’s fingerprints was apparently due to his criminal convictions. It signaled that Washington was not keen on giving him a visa, according to Channel 12, which first reported the incident.
The far-right Ben Gvir has repeatedly made headlines with provocative antics, some of which have drawn international condemnation.
The US Embassy told Ben-Gvir that he would need to appear in person to provide biometric fingerprints as part of the visa process, Haaretz daily reported.
The Israeli minister was reportedly set to travel to Miami to attend the wedding of an Israeli businessman’s daughter.
Haaretz previously reported that he initially sought for the businessman to fund the trip, before agreeing to cover the costs himself following criticism from the state comptroller.
Source: Saudi Gazette