Israelis complain about treatment in Qatar World Cup

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An Israeli KAN public broadcaster correspondent in Qatar complained Thursday about "unpleasant" incidents he was subjected to in Qatar during the channel's coverage of the FIFA World Cup championship being held in the country due to him being Israeli, a heavily opposed "nationality" in the region.

"We got into a cab and the driver discovered that we were Israeli. He did not like that at all, so he kicked us out his car and told us he was not about to take our money, accusing us of killing his brothers in Palestine," Israeli correspondent Dor Hoffman said.

Hoffman also said that when he and his team arrived at a restaurant at a local beach with his team, he took some photos. The restaurant's owner inquired about their nationality, asking them where they were coming from. "When he found out that we are from Israel, he brought the restaurant's security guards, and they kicked us out. They also took my phone and deleted all the photos I had taken."

He said that he felt bad and threatened, noting that he "belonged to a hostile party."

Another Israeli correspondent said a few days ago that he was bothered by the stances of the Arab fans attending the 2022 World Cup, saying that they would refuse to be interviewed by him due to his allegiance.

According to the correspondent, young Lebanese men were enraged when they found out that he was Israeli, saying: "I would also like to say that even off the air, whichever Arab fans we meet there with and introduce ourselves to, they reject talking to us altogether."

Since the World Cup kicked off, there have been various videos that went viral of Arab fans refusing to be interviewed by Israeli media.

"All attempts to talk to football fans in Doha did not go according to plan," Israeli media has said. "Videos are being circulated online are of Saudi fans, a Qatari shopper, and several Lebanese fans purposely avoiding Israeli reporters."

"Us being here with an Israeli logo and speaking Hebrew was very problematic for a lot of people here, as there have been many attempts carried out by people here from all over the Arab World to protest against us because we represent normalization," Israeli Channel 12's correspondent to Qatar said.

Israeli Channel 12 correspondent, Ohad Hamo, expressed his frustration from the “maltreatment” of the Arab masses he came across in the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Arab people of all nations refused to be interviewed by him, an Israeli, during a live TV broadcast. 

"Everyone knows us, perhaps from the widespread Tik Tok videos. They come to us and criticize us being here," Hamo said in objection. “I don't know why," he cried out. 

"When I introduce myself being an Israeli, some of them tell me, 'Thank you.' Why Thank you?!" he went on to say with looks that reflect utmost bewilderment.

لا يفوتكم هذا الفيديو..#شاهد:بصوت مهزوم..أوهاد حمو مراسل "القناة 12 الإسرائيلية" يقول:"رغم أننا وقعنا على أربع اتفاقيات تطبيع، إلا أن غالبية الشعوب العربية لا تحب وجودنا هنا".

لقد شكل #كأس_العالم_قطر_2022 فرصة حقيقية لإبراز الوعي الجمعي لأمتنا في رفضها لهذا الكيان الغاصب. pic.twitter.com/Yaj4zG83nM

— أدهم أبو سلمية #غزة 🇵🇸 (@adham922) November 22, 2022

The aforementioned channel showed a video clip of an Arab fan, following the Saudi Arabia vs. Argentina match, who entered into a heated argument with the reporter, dealing a blow to him and reminding him that "Israel" does not exist.

When the reporter introduced himself as being from "Israel", the fan replied sternly, "There is no such thing as Israel, there is only Palestine. Long live Palestine, free and Arab."

When the reporter tried to impose his opinion by saying, "There is Israel until the Day of Resurrection," the fan, along with others, insisted that "there is no such thing as Israel. Palestine is free and Arab, and it will remain as such to the end of days. It is not a matter of politics, because Israel doesn’t even exist.”