Qatar entered new normalization territory with 'Israel', activists

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
11 Nov 2022 20:22

Qatar Youth Against Normalization group outraged over the government's decision to establish direct flights between Doha and the Israeli occupation during the world cup.

Qatari activists outraged over the decision to establish direct flights between Doha and the Israeli occupation during the world cup.

Qatar Youth Against Normalization, a Qatari group that advocates against forming ties with the Israeli occupation, expressed their shock after their authorities announced direct flights with "Israel" a few days ago during the World Cup.

FIFA announced on Thursday that there will be direct charter flights between "Israel and" Qatar, two parties that do not have formal diplomatic ties, during the upcoming World Cup in Doha.

"It has come as a shock to us that days leading to the World Cup, Qatar has entered new territories of normalization with the announcement that direct flights will now operate between apartheid Israel and Doha," the group stated on Thursday following the FIFA announcement.

Israeli media reported earlier that the occupation is set to sign an agreement with Qatar to open a temporary office in Doha during the FIFA World Cup 2023 which will take place from December 20 to November 18.

The agreement will allow Israeli officials from the Foreign Ministry to travel to Doha and establish an office to provide Israelis attending the World Cup with consular services.

In late November, Qatar will host the first World Cup in the Middle East. Unlike its neighbors, the UAE and Bahrain, Doha did not officially normalize ties with the Israeli occupation, but the announcement shows otherwise and may be a move toward normalization.

It's noteworthy that although "Israel" did not qualify for the cup, it announced last June that it had reached a deal allowing Israelis to obtain a visa to Qatar and attend the event.