Qatar has allowed Israeli citizens to come to its country for the football World Cup. The Israeli government has said that despite the absence of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Israeli citizens will be allowed to come to Qatar to watch football World Cup matches.
Qatar has allowed Israeli citizens to come to its country for the football World Cup
A joint statement from Israel’s defense, foreign, and sports ministries said that FIFA, the world governing body for football, had confirmed that Israeli citizens would be able to enter Qatar during the World Cup and watch the game like all spectators around the world. Will be able Like other foreigners, Israeli citizens will be allowed to obtain a visa online with proof of ticket purchase. Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said on Twitter that it was a diplomatic achievement that would bring joy to football fans.
The love of sports unites people and countries. Since September 2020, Israel has normalized relations with three Arab countries, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco. It has agreed to do the same with Sudan. It should be noted that Qatar does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, it supports Hamas. After the first of four wars between Israel and Hamas, Qatar severed trade relations with Israel in 2009.
Trade relations between the two countries were established in 1996 when then-Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres visited Doha, the capital of Qatar. An Israeli diplomatic source told AFP on Friday that the agreement allowing Israelis to travel to the World Cup would not be for direct flights between the two countries. Israel’s national football team will not take part in the tournament, having last qualified for the World Cup final in 1970 and is now third in its qualifying group.
