The 180 soccer fans waiting in line to check in for their World Cup flights aren’t just fortunate to have tickets; they’re also making history.
Fans will be transported to one of the major sporting events for the first time on direct flights between two non-diplomatic nations, Tel Aviv, Israel, and Doha, Qatar. In addition to Israeli officials in attendance, FIFA footballs bouncing between legs, a balloon archway, and cake at the gate, the passengers were enveloped by a joyous environment on Sunday.
This is historical. Eli Levin, a passenger, said after checking in, “We didn’t expect this, and I don’t know if [there will be] another occasion to do this.” Qatar was required to admit Israelis as part of the agreement with FIFA for hosting the event, despite the fact that they are not generally allowed to travel there. However, the direct flights were not originally anticipated.
FIFA revealed that direct flights from Israel to Qatar would be permitted
Then, at the beginning of November, FIFA revealed that, as part of a compromise, direct flights from Israel to Qatar would be permitted provided that Palestinians could also travel on them.
Without difficult-to-get special clearance from Israeli officials, Palestinians from the occupied territories are typically prohibited from flying from Ben Gurion airport. Instead, they travel through Amman, Jordan, to board international flights, which can take hours because of border checkpoints. However, Palestinians will find it simpler to pass security checks and get approval to leave Tel Aviv if they have a World Cup ticket.
“With this deal, Israelis and Palestinians will be able to fly together and enjoy football together,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement lauding the deal. “The World Cup is the ultimate symbol of football’s unifying power, and today’s historic announcement provides a platform to improve relations across the Middle East.”
Cyprus-based TUS Airways, which is running the six round-trips (12 flights), had originally intended for the special flights to stop in Cyprus for a brief “diplomatic” stopover before continuing on to Doha. It will now take two hours and 45 minutes instead of three. TUS Airways Senior Commercial Director Micha Owsinski stated that they are planning to add three more round-trip flights due to the high demand.
“We hope really that it will be a great celebration for soccer. And that these fans here, both Arabs and Jews, Israeli and Palestinians enjoy and really show the good side of sports,” Owsinski told CNN.
Palestinian supporters had already made travel arrangements through Jordan
Not Palestinians from the occupied areas, but Israeli passport holders made up the majority of the inaugural flight’s passengers. According to Amir Assi, who is in charge of organizing Palestinian travel to the World Cup, the sudden revelation of the travel arrangement was largely to blame for that.
He claimed that the majority of Palestinian supporters had already made travel arrangements through Jordan, but they now intend to travel more quickly and easily by taking a flight from Tel Aviv to Amman rather than taking the longer route by land. However, some are still anticipated to utilize the unique direct flights.
