Daily Times

DOHA: Palestinian flags are flying everywhere in Qatar but Israeli fans are staying low-key as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict makes its presence felt at the first World Cup on Arab soil. Despite moves by some Arab countries, not including Qatar, to normalise relations with Israel, the Palestinian cause is being embraced by many Arab fans and some officials. Terse interactions between Arab supporters and Israeli media have gone viral, including footage shot by a journalist of a Saudi fan berating an Israeli TV reporter that has been viewed more than 5.2 million times on Twitter. “There is only Palestine, there is no Israel… you are not welcome here,” the fan shouts at Moav Vardi, a reporter for Israel’s public broadcaster Kan. The Arab fans flooding Qatar have been refusing to speak with Israel media, while some yell “Long Live Palestine” in front of Israeli television cameras.

“We find it very difficult to work here,” Vardi said, adding that he understood the Arab anger. Many Qataris have put the Palestinian flag next to their own national emblem, hanging from the windows of their luxury cars. Some Qataris sitting in a stadium VIP section have worn armbands showing the Palestinian keffiyeh head-dress, while the Palestinian song “Ali Al-Keffiyeh” (Raise Your Keffiyeh) is regularly played in fan zones. “Some foreigners do not know the Palestinian flag and ask us about it,” said Yahya Abu Hantash, a 33-year-old Palestinian living in Doha. “This is a golden opportunity to introduce our cause,” said Hantash, who wore a Qatar football shirt while holding a Palestinian flag.

Qatar has no relations with Israel and remains a supporter of the decades-long Palestinian cause for statehood. Doha supports Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that rules the Gaza Strip, and provides vital financial aid to residents of the coastal enclave blockaded by Israel since 2007. Qatar criticised moves by other Arab nations — including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco — to normalise relations in 2020. While Palestinian symbols are ubiquitous, an Israeli fan, who gave his name as Haim, said Qatar was his fourth World Cup but the first where he has not brought the national flag.

Direct flights: About 10,000 Israelis are expected in Qatar for the football tournament, according to diplomat Alon Levy who was in Doha to organise consular coverage. FIFA hailed a deal allowing Palestinians and Israelis to travel to the Gulf emirate on special charter flights from Tel Aviv as a platform “to improve relations across the Middle East”. Qatar insisted that Palestinians be allowed to travel with Israelis as a condition for allowing the direct flights, which will stop after the December 18 World Cup final.

Israel has occupied the Palestinian territories of east Jerusalem and the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War fought with Arab nations. Most Palestinians get to Qatar through Jordan or Egypt, as Israel severely restricts access to Tel Aviv airport, the official said. About 250,000 Palestinians live in Qatar which has a population of around 2.9 million, most of them foreigners.