Ben Gvir said to cancel US trip at last moment due to visa complications

US embassy calls on far-right minister to provide his fingerprints, after which he reportedly decides to ditch travel plan

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has canceled an upcoming 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, Hebrew media outlets reported Sunday.

The far-right Ben Gvir has repeatedly made headlines with provocative antics, some of which have drawn international condemnation.

The unusual move of requiring his fingerprints was apparently due to his criminal convictions and signaled that Washington was not keen on giving him a visa, according to Channel 12, which first reported the incident.

Though Ben Gvir did arrive at the embassy to provide his fingerprints and was interviewed there by officials, he ultimately decided to cancel the entire trip, reportedly telling his associates that he was worried the visa would not arrive in time for his flight.

Responding to Channel 12, the minister’s office said in a statement that he had decided to voluntarily give up the option of a diplomatic passport since most of his trip was planned to be personal, and had instead applied for a regular visa.

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However, the response failed to address why Ben Gvir ended up not traveling at all, and why he falsely claimed that all Israelis applying for a US visa are required to provide their fingerprints. In fact, Israelis are eligible for a visa waiver under the ESTA program, provided they meet conditions that include not having a criminal record.

Additionally, Ben Gvir had reportedly asked the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court to delay a scheduled hearing on a defamation suit he brought against a journalist, due to his US trip, presenting it as a visit with “diplomatic importance,” and not, as his office claimed, as primarily a personal visit.

The trip had already run into complications after it was first planned a month ago, when it was reported that the travel expenses, amounting to tens of thousands of shekels, would be paid by Ben Gvir’s associate Yaakov Elharar, a businessman residing in Miami whose daughter’s wedding Ben Gvir and his wife were planning to attend.

The matter was brought to the State Comptroller Permits Committee, which covers ethical behavior and conflicts of interest. The panel ruled against allowing Elharar to cover the cost of the visit.

Ben Gvir has several past convictions, including disturbing the peace, incitement to racism, and supporting a terror group.

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