By By Paul Iddon Apr 19, 2014 in Politics The U.S and Israel have been trying to put in place a visa waiver program that will allow Israelis to travel to the U.S as tourists for 90 days without having to apply for a visa. The Post quotes Julia Frifield, the assistance secretary of state for legislative affairs, dispelling the notion that "young Israelis are unwelcome to travel in the United States," by insisting that, "Israel is one of our closest friends and allies." However the U.S House Judiciary Committee has, according to Their objection stems more from a fear of espionage on the part of Israel as opposed to perceived discrimination of Arab-Americans traveling to Israel. As another more recent Jerusalem Post report He was subsequently sentenced by the United States to life in prison where he remains to this day. The Jerusalem Post writes that there are two main reasons U.S officials have to date have made Israel ineligible for this program. Those being past allegations that Israel itself has discriminated against Americans with Arab or Islamic backgrounds by preventing them from entering Israel. Another suspected reason was the fact that young Israelis have come to the U.S as tourists in order to work illegally.The Post quotes Julia Frifield, the assistance secretary of state for legislative affairs, dispelling the notion that "young Israelis are unwelcome to travel in the United States," by insisting that, "Israel is one of our closest friends and allies."However the U.S House Judiciary Committee has, according to this Roll Call report , voiced opposition to allowing Israel on the Visa Waiver program saying it would make it easier for spies from Israel to enter the United States.Their objection stems more from a fear of espionage on the part of Israel as opposed to perceived discrimination of Arab-Americans traveling to Israel.As another more recent Jerusalem Post report on this situation points out, this all comes amid talk in the U.S over releasing Jonathan Pollard, an American imprisoned many years ago for passing classified American information on to Israel back in 1987.He was subsequently sentenced by the United States to life in prison where he remains to this day. More about United States, Israel, Jonathan Pollard, Visa, Espionage More news from United States Israel Jonathan Pollard Visa Espionage