Palestinians, Israelis can share flights to attend Qatar 2022 World Cup

Israelis and Palestinians will be able to share flights to attend the 2022 World Cup in Qatar later this month.

Though Israel and Qatar do not share diplomatic relations, fans will be able to attend the tournament games, according to an agreement announced by FIFA on Thursday.

A Qatari government statement said the travel arrangement was “part of Qatar’s commitment to FIFA’s hosting requirements and it should not be politicized.”

Charter flights to Doha from Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv for soccer games starting on November 20 will be open to all Palestinians, FIFA said.

The flights will also be open to Palestinians from the occupied West Bank and besieged Gaza Strip. They are not usually permitted to travel from Israel’s main airport.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said the agreement was the result of “hard work over the course of many months.”

The first World Cup to be hosted in the Middle East and an Arab nation runs from November 20 to December 18.