Israeli citizens can get visas online by showing proof of ticket, officials said.
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.
A joint statement by Israel’s defense, foreign and sports ministries said that soccer’s world governing body, FIFA, has confirmed that Israeli citizens will be able to enter Qatar during the World Cup and watch the games like all fans around the world. will be able to
Like other foreigners, Israeli citizens will be allowed to obtain a visa online with proof of ticket purchase.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said on Twitter that this is a diplomatic achievement that is a source of joy for football fans. The love of sport unites people and countries.
Israel has normalized relations with three Arab countries, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco, since September 2020. 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, Qatar severed trade relations with Israel in 2009 after the first of four wars between Israel and Hamas.
Trade relations between the two countries were established in 1996 when the then Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres visited Doha, the capital of Qatar.
An Israeli diplomatic source told AFP on Friday that the deal allowing Israelis to travel to the World Cup would not cover direct flights between the two countries.
Israel’s national football team will not participate in the tournament, having last qualified for the World Cup finals in 1970 and this time finishing third in their qualifying group.