An deal permitting Israelis to go to Qatar for the World Cup has been hailed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken as a “historic milestone” that will “strengthen people-to-people ties and economic integration.”
Israelis and Palestinians are allowed to fly on charter planes to the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East, FIFA announced on Thursday.
During the World Cup, there will be direct charter flights between Tel Aviv and Doha, allowing Israelis and Palestinians with match tickets and a valid Hayya fan ID to board flights that are operated by an airline with prior landing rights in Qatar from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport to Doha’s Hamad International Airport.
Senior US officials praised the announcement.
“I welcome FIFA’s news of direct flights between Qatar and Israel for the World Cup,” Blinken wrote in a tweet. This action promotes freedom of travel for everybody, Israelis and Palestinians alike, while strengthening
I welcome FIFA’s announcement of direct flights between Qatar and Israel for the World Cup. This step bolsters people to people ties and economic integration, while encouraging freedom of travel for all, both Israeli and Palestinian.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) November 11, 2022
Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser for the US, praised the disclosure as well.
“Excited about this crucial step to strengthen links between people and further assimilate Israel into the area. We’ll be supporting Team USA!
Israel’s prime minister, Yair Lapid, and FIFA, which oversees football worldwide, both endorsed Thursday’s announcement.
At the time, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, “Today’s historic news gives a platform to develop relations across the Middle East.”
Subject to Israel’s operational and security requirements, direct charter flights will be temporarily provided between Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv and Hamad International Airport in Doha by an airline with existing landing rights in Qatar during the duration of the FIFA World Cup.
During the tournament, which runs from November 20 to December 18, a Doha-based travel agency will assist Israeli visitors in Qatar with consular matters, according to FIFA.
