As part of the agreement, U.S. authorities would gain access to an Israeli biometric database in the event that an Israeli citizen is suspected of a crime punishable by more than ten years. This is a shift in the position of the U.S., which had been demanding unfettered access to the database in connection with any crime.
The United States however will not be given access to Israel's current biometric database, but to a new database that would be established which will only include the biometric information of Israelis who were convicted of a serious crime.
Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked is expected to travel to the U.S. within the next two weeks to sign agreements on visa-free travel, but they would only take effect in a year or two, during which the Justice Ministry will be required to seek passage of legislation that would permit authorities from outside of Israel to gain access to sensitive Israeli government data.
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