Visitors spending 90 days or less in Jamaica from Israel and vice versa can now travel without a visa. The official document was signed by the Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs, the Hon Hugh Shearer, for Jamaica, and Abraham Sarlouis for the Government of Israel.

Published Wednesday, December 6, 1967

Agreement to abolish short-visit visas signed between Jamaica and Israel

An agreement was signed yesterday morning between the Government of Jamaica and the Government of Israel, abolishing the need for visas for short visits between both countries.

Signing on behalf of the Government of Jamaica was the Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs, the Hon Hugh Shearer, and, for the Government of Israel, its new Ambassador to Jamaica. Abraham Sarlouis.

The signing ceremony took place in the prime minister's office, and present were the Minister of Legal Affairs, the Hon Roy McNeill, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Defence,  James Lloyd, the acting chief of protocol, Ministry of External Affairs,  Beverley Dodd, and the consul for Israel in Jamaica, Aaron Matalon.

Citizens of both countries will now no longer need visas for purposes of visits lasting less than 90 days.

The opportunity was taken to sign the agreement during Sarlouis' call on the prime minister to present him with copies of his letters of credence.

Shearer took the opportunity during the meeting to inquire about various Israeli diplomats he has met through his association with the United Nations. He also paid tribute to the work which was done in Jamaica by the former Israeli ambassador, Benjamin Varon, who, he said, had begun the early discussions concerning the abolition of the need for visas between Jamaica and Israel.

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