U.S. Lifts Ban on Israeli Finance Minister and Awaits His Visit

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant has invited Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to visit the United States, following a phone call between the two officials.

According to Eitan Fold, Smotrich’s spokesperson, the minister will travel to Washington in the coming days to discuss economic and political cooperation between the two countries. The meeting is scheduled for March 8 or 9.

The U.S. news outlet Axios highlighted the significance of this visit, noting that it marks the end of a diplomatic boycott imposed by U.S. officials on Smotrich during the Biden administration. During his only previous visit to the U.S. under Biden, Smotrich was not received by the U.S. Treasury Secretary.

Notably, the ban on Smotrich was lifted after Donald Trump took office, making this meeting the first direct talks between Smotrich and a Trump administration official.