Direct Tel Aviv-Doha flights to function throughout World Cup: FIFA

Direct constitution flights will function between Israel and Qatar, which don’t have formal diplomatic ties, through the upcoming World Cup in Doha, FIFA stated Thursday, facilitating attendance by eligible Israeli and Palestinian followers.

Soccer’s world governing physique stated it brokered the deal that may permit holders of match tickets and a sound Hayya fan ID on flights from Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv to Doha’s Hamad International through the one-month occasion.
“With this deal, Israelis and Palestinians will be able to fly together and enjoy football together,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated within the assertion.

The assertion didn’t specify which Palestinians, who dwell within the Israeli-occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, this may apply to. The settlement requires Palestinian ticket holders and media “to travel on these chartered flights with no restrictions as they have an equal right to enjoy the tournament,” an unnamed spokesperson for Q22, Qatar’s match operator, stated in FIFA’s assertion.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid stated in a press release that negotiations over a number of months led to an settlement to open “an Israeli office in Qatar to provide services to fans coming for the World Cup.” Israel’s international ministry added in a press release that “it was agreed that an Israeli consular team will provide consular services to the Israeli citizens (attending the World Cup).” The assertion didn’t specify the place the crew can be positioned.

FIFA stated a Doha-based journey firm would, in coordination with Israel’s international ministry, present consular help to Israeli guests in Qatar through the World Cup, the primary to be held within the Middle East and which runs from Nov. 20 to Dec 18.

In June, when Israel introduced that residents might attend the World Cup in Qatar, Lapid, who can also be international minister, stated it “opens a new door for us to warm ties.” The settlement on direct flights doesn’t change Qatar’s stance on normalizing relations with Israel which is linked to Palestinian statehood, a Qatari official stated.

“This is part of Qatar’s commitment to FIFA’s hosting requirements and it should not be politicized,” the official stated. “Because of this agreement, Palestinians will now be able to enjoy the first World Cup in the Arab and Muslim world”.

Israeli passport holders can often solely journey to Qatar on particular visas issued for sports activities fixtures or conferences. There are not any current direct flights between the 2 international locations. A supply acquainted with the settlement, who declined to be named attributable to sensitivities, stated there have been talks with Royal Jordanian Airlines to function the World Cup constitution flights.

The flight association is “subject to Israel’s security requirements and operational capabilities” FIFA’s assertion stated. At least 8,000 Palestinians and three,900 Israelis have utilized for a Hayya card, the supply stated. Qatar’s Gulf Arab neighbors the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain cast ties with Israel beneath U.S.-brokered pacts in 2020.