World Cup 2022: Direct flights will operate between Tel Aviv and Doha
A Qatar Airways plane landing at Doha airport (illustrative image).
Reuters/Naseem Zeitoon
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Israeli fans are welcome in Qatar to watch the FIFA World Cup, which kicks off in ten days.
An agreement, just signed by the Jewish state, FIFA and Doha, will allow direct travel between Tel Aviv and the small Gulf emirate.
The agreement also provides assistance to Israeli travelers who will make the trip, while officially, Israel and Qatar have no diplomatic relations.
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With our correspondent in Jerusalem
,
Sami Boukhelifa
Between Israel and Qatar, it is a normalization of relations of circumstance, and of limited duration.
From November 20 to December 18, 2022, on the occasion of the FIFA World Cup, for the first time, direct flights will operate between Tel Aviv and Doha.
These are charter flights, therefore temporary.
They will be chartered by an airline whose name is not yet known, but which already has the right to land in Qatar, so
exit
the Israeli companies.
Support for nationals
According to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Jewish state will also be able to accompany its nationals to Qatar, thanks to a liaison office, set up for the duration of the competition.
The Israeli authorities will be able to provide consular assistance to the thousands of Israelis planning to travel.
Israelis and Palestinians
In a press release, FIFA writes that Israelis and Palestinians “
will be able to fly together
” to get to Doha.
“
Football has the power to bring people together.
It transcends all borders.
But the International Football Federation does not specify which Palestinians it is.
Because, if the Palestinians of Jerusalem can indeed travel from Tel-Aviv airport, those of the
West Bank
and Gaza are not entitled to it.
Unless you obtain special permits, which are difficult to issue by the Jewish state.
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Also to listen: World Cup 2022: are the criticisms against Qatar all justified?
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