San Francisco: The US allows inhabitants of 37 countries to enter without a visa, as long as they extend the same privilege to US citizens. Senator Barbara Boxer is proposing to add Israel to that list – but without requiring equal treatment for Americans travelling to Israel.

Instead, the legislation the Democratic senator has introduced would exempt Israeli visitors from visa requirements as long as the US government certifies that Israel "has made every reasonable effort, without jeopardising the security of the state of Israel," to admit Americans without a visa.

Best of friends ... but Israel and the US treat each others' citizens differently when it comes to visas. Credit:Saul Loeb/AFP

What that means, according to critics of the Israeli government, is that Israel can continue to exclude Americans who are either Arab or Muslim, or who belong to groups that oppose Israeli policies. Requiring a visa for visitors allows the government to bar them from entering, or to limit their activities or the length of their stay.

The legislation "would codify into American law discrimination against American citizens," said Sydney Levy of Jewish Voice for Peace, a group that opposes Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.