First direct flight from Tel Aviv to Doha brings excited football fans to World Cup

The first direct flight flying from Israel to Qatar took off from Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday morning carrying Israeli and Palestinian football fans eager to watch their favorite teams compete in Qatar's 2022 FIFA World Cup, the first held in a Mideast country.

Mohamed Hatem, Monday 21 Nov 2022,
World Cup countdown
A woman poses for a picture next to the World Cup s count down clock ahead of the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador, in Doha, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. AP

 

The flight came after months-long negotiations between both countries that ended with a landmark deal allowing more than 1,000 passengers to travel directly to the country for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The World Cup is set to take place between 20 November and 18 December, attracting football fans from around the world. 

Although the flight was operated by TUS Airways, a Cypriot airline, it was still subject to Israeli security measures, as per the agreement, according to Israeli newspapers.

“With this deal, Israelis and Palestinians will be able to fly together and enjoy soccer together,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

However, despite direct flights for the World Cup, a Qatari official said the country’s stance on normalisation “has not changed,” according to CNN.

Gulf neighbours UAE and Bahrain normalised relations with Israel in 2020, becoming just the third and fourth Arab states to do so. Morocco and Sudan have also since normalised ties with Israel.

The administration of then-US President Donald Trump had hoped other Gulf states would also establish formal ties.

Similarly, Turkey restored relations with Israel after a four-year hiatus on August 2022. 

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