DOHA, Qatar
Qatar has rejected an alleged request by Israel to set up a temporary consulate office during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, according to sources in Doha.
Israeli media reported last
week that Israel and Qatar were
engaged in secret talks over a representative office for Israeli football
fans during the World Cup.
Doha has denied reports that
there was any direct contact between Israel and
Qatar over a "consular office", reported The New Arab's Arabic
language sister site Al Araby Al Jadeed.
Sources in the Qatari capital
said Israelis had instead discussed the issue with FIFA
but Doha refused the request.
"Israeli media has in
recent days been reporting about talks between Israel and Qatar, in order to
open a temporary Israeli consulate in Doha during the World Cup... which
sources in Doha denied… and confirmed that this request was sent via FIFA, but
Doha rejected it," reported Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
The Israeli foreign ministry
has also denied that any such negotiations took place, according to Doha
News.
Tens of thousands of Israeli
football fans are expected to attend the tournament in Qatar.
Last June, an agreement with
reached with FIFA to
allow Israelis to travel to the Gulf state for matches without the need for a
visa.
Israeli journalists will also
be able to go to Qatar, but they are required to fill out a "special
journalist" visa.
Qatar has not normalised
relations with Israel, unlike the UAE and Bahrain.
Doha said improvements in
diplomatic relations with Israel are dependent upon improved conditions
for Palestinians.
Qatar is committed to the 2002
Arab Peace Initiative, a move adopted by the Arab League twenty years ago, that
states member countries shall refrain from normalising with Israel until it
fully withdraws from Palestinian lands occupied in 1967.
However in 2020 Bahrain, the
UAE and Morocco normalised ties with Israel despite the continued occupation of
the West Bank and East Jerusalem, a move which Palestinians saw as a betrayal
of their cause. - Africa
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