It was unfamiliar territory for the Israeli journalist. Wandering through Doha’s rustic open-air market before the start of the World Cup, he spotted a Qatari man in his traditional headdress and white robe asked for an interview.
“Which channel?” asked the Qatari. The reporter answered yes Kanthe Israeli public broadcaster.
Qatar remained amazed. “From where?” “Israel,” repeated the reporter. A split second later, the interview was over.
The exchange of words rebounded on social media, reflecting the last political sticking point in the first World Cup in the Arab world, regardless of whether neither the Israeli nor the Palestinian national teams participate in the tournament.
Controversy follows Israelis and Palestinians to Doha, revealing what grounded and emotional their centuries-old and violent conflict remains, including Israel’s indefinite occupation of land Palestinians want for a future state.
A bad time for Israeli journalists
Palestinians shared footage of meeting in Doha between Qatari man and Israeli journalist, along with other videos from Palestinians and Qataris angrily confront Israeli journalists on live television.
They saw it as evidence that while Qatar has allowed Israelis to fly directly to Doha and receive consular support for the first time in history, the conservative Muslim emirate it has no intention of getting close to Israel.
Israel Channel 13 sports reporter Tal Shorerr said it was pushed, insulted and accosted by Palestinians and other Arab fans during their live reports of the tournament.
“You kill children!”some Arab fans yelled at him as they charged him during a broadcast this week.
Qatari media, for their part, released some of these videos with the caption: “No to normalization”.
Qatari officials, with their record of public support for Palestinians, insist temporary opening to Israelis is solely to meet FIFA hosting requirementsnot a step to normalize ties as neighboring Bahrain and the UAE did in 2020.
Qatar has warned of an increase in violence in the occupied West Bank or Gaza Strip it would derail the deal.
However, thousands of Israeli football fans are expected to travel to Doha for the World Cup, diplomats say, including some in ten direct flights scheduled for next month.
Israeli tourists, no problem
Many Israeli fans marvel at the exciting news of be in a country that does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. Security-conscious citizens comment on how safe they feel.
“My friends and family thought it might be dangerous, but nothing happens“says Eli Agami, an aviation executive who lives near Tel Aviv. “I don’t go around telling people, but I don’t think anyone cares if you’re Israeli or Jewish. Everyone just cares about the game.”
Six Israeli diplomats have settled into the office of a travel agency in Doha, ready to respond to crises big and small. To limit potential problems, the Foreign Ministry has launched a campaign urging Israelis to keep a low profile.
“We want to avoid any friction with other fans and with local authorities,” said delegation member Alon Lavie, citing the legions of fans from Iran, Saudi Arabia and other countries hostile or cold towards Israel now inundating Qatar. “We want to remind them (Israelis)…not to involve others.”
Israelis feel at home among the glittering skyscrapers of Doha. Qatar’s first kosher kitchen has been set up near the airport, supplying hotels and fan zones with classic Jewish challah bread with egg and olives and hummus sandwiches.
They plan to prepare more foods for the Sabbath that begins at sunset on Friday, with all ingredients complying with kosher dietary laws.
“We have received many, many questions and requests,” said Rabbi Mendy Chitrik, who is overseeing the effort.
The main Israeli chains they were allowed to broadcast from Doha, providing Israeli viewers with continuous match coverage. But unlike other major foreign chains located in central Doha, the Israelis move in without a formal investigation.
The streets are another story
Shorer noted that while interactions with Qatari officials have been thoroughly enjoyable, the streets are another story.
He said he advises Israeli fans let them hide their yarmulkes and get rid of your stars of David so as not to provoke hostility. When a cellphone vendor noticed his friend’s Hebrew settings, he exploded with rage and yelled at the Israeli to get out of Doha.
“I was so excited to come with an Israeli passport, thinking it would be a good thing,” she said. “It’s sad, it’s unfortunate. People insulted and threatened us“.
Palestinian fans from all over the Arab world, including descendants of those who fled or they were forced from their homes in the 1948 war for the creation of Israel– paraded through the streets of Doha this week draped in Palestinian flags. Some also wore Palestinian bracelets.
A group of young Palestinians living in Doha sang “Free Palestine!” as they marched through Doha’s historic Souq Waqif market on Sunday.
“We want the whole world to know about the occupation and what is happening in Palestine so that more people support us,” said Sarah Shadid, a 26-year-old girl.
He giggled when asked about the influx of Israeli supporters.
“I’m a little upset,” she said, adding that she was sure their presence hadn’t been chosen by Qatar. Doha mediates between Israel and the militant group Hamas and sends money to pay the salaries of officials in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
When FIFA announced unprecedented non-stop flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport to Doha, Qatari authorities promised the travel deal would also apply to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, which for fifteen years has been under a strict Israeli-Egyptian blockade, since Hamas took over.
However, five days before the tournament is due to start, it is unclear how officials will implement this premise.
A senior Israeli diplomat, Lior Haiat, said all Palestinian fans who want to leave the Israeli airport must get approval from Israeli security leaving and returning, an often exhausting and unpredictable process. “It takes a while,” she acknowledged.
Imad Qaraqra, spokesman for the Palestinian General Authority on civil affairs, said he had not heard of any Palestinians asking for Israeli permission to leave Ben Gurion. Palestinians from the West Bank traveled to Qatar this week from Jordan airport, while the Palestinians in Gaza they went to Egypt through the Rafah border crossing.
Palestinian fans who they made that long journey they said their participation in the world’s biggest sporting event served a political purpose for them.
“I’m here to remember that in 2022 our land is still occupied“said Moawya Maher, a 31-year-old businessman from Hebron, a particularly tense city in the West Bank. He was dancing at a FIFA Fan Festival concert wearing a Palestinian flag as a cloak. “I guess that’s a sad situation. But I’m also proud.”
The author is a reporter for the Associated Press.
Translation: Elisa Carnelli
Source: Clarin
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.