JAKARTA - Football fans from Israel and the Palestinian territories can share flights to the World Cup in Qatar in a groundbreaking agreement announced by FIFA.
A charter flight to Doha from Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv for the match starting November 20 will open to all Palestinians, FIFA said.
This includes residents of the occupied West Bank and the blockaded Gaza Strip, which are usually unable to travel through Israel's main airport.
Although Israel and Qatar have no diplomatic relations, temporary consular services will be set up in Doha for the tournament.
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said the agreement was the result of "working hard for months".
Meanwhile, a Qatari government statement said travel arrangements were "part of Qatar's commitment to FIFA's host requirements and should not be politicized".
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
Separately, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated FIFA, Israel and Qatar on the "historic step" of opening direct flights between Tel Aviv and Doha during the World Cup.
"Today's announcement is a historic development and an important step, which also promises to improve relations between communities and economic relations," Foreign Minister Blinken said, quoted by The National News on November 11.
"As President Biden said, building regional integration in the Middle East and its surroundings brings prosperity and security to the people of the region," he continued.
"We welcome the statement that this move will benefit Israeli and Palestinian football fans, as a move to expand greater freedom of travel for all who are consistent with Qatar's pledge that all are accepted at the World Cup," he said.
"The United States will continue to engage with Israel and our partners across the region for the benefit of all, praising Qatar and Israel, both of which are close partners of the United States, for the leadership and spirit of sportsmanship they have shown with these developments," Foreign Minister Blinken said. Qatari World Cup which runs from November 20 to December 18, is the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East and Arab countries.
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