Israel is initiating direct flights to Qatar during the World Cup, to allow the thousands of fans who purchased tickets for the games to reach the country without the need for intermediate flights.
It is estimated that about 15,000 Israelis won the lottery and purchased tickets for games at the various stages of the World Cup.
It is expected that thousands more Israelis will win the additional lottery that will be held soon, and more fans will purchase tickets through agents and ticket offices.
Therefore, the total number of Israelis expected to come to Qatar during the World Cup - which will be held in November-December this year - will reach tens of thousands.
Shortening the route time
Israel and Qatar have no official diplomatic relations and there are no direct flights between the two countries.
Those who purchased tickets for the games will be able to reach the country by flight through a third country, and most Israelis will probably do so via Turkey, Cyprus or Jordan.
The need for a connecting flight significantly prolongs the duration of the flight: instead of about three hours on a direct flight, the length of the route is 7-10 hours on average, depending on the waiting time.
Towards direct flights from Ben Gurion Airport ?, Photo: Moshe Shai
Qataris inspect stadium, Photo: IP
"Israel Today" has learned that Israel initiates direct flights between the countries during the World Cup.
The initiative comes from senior members of the defense establishment, and is intended not only to facilitate the flights themselves.
Senior officials said that the existence of flights between the two countries would strengthen ties between them - which now exist only on the secret level - because it would require an open Israeli presence in Doha, the capital of Qatar, and continuous communication between officials from the two countries.
Israeli optimism
This Israeli initiative is expected to be presented to the Doha authorities soon.
It is not clear what their reaction will be.
Qatar has made it clear through various channels that it has no intention of joining the "Abraham Agreements", and that it will not allow for "partial normalization" like the one that took place between the countries until 2009, when Qatar closed the two countries' interest offices because Israel launched Operation Cast Lead. In Gaza.
Israel hopes that Qatar will have an interest in cooperating with the initiative, to encourage tourism to the country during the Games, and also to facilitate the entry procedures of Israelis into its territory.
This issue has not yet been resolved either.
Today, Israelis can only enter Qatar through foreign passports, but Qatar has already made it clear that during the World Cup it will allow citizens of all countries to enter.
However, it is still unclear whether Israelis will be required to issue visas, or whether it will be possible to be satisfied with presenting tickets for games and booking rooms in hotels.
Along with the issue of visas, Israel will try to regulate the issue of communication between the countries.
There are no communication agreements between Israel and Qatar, and Israelis who come to the games will find that the surfing packages they purchased do not work in Qatar and it is not possible to receive or make phone calls or surf, unless you purchase a local SIM card.
Do not get involved with Qatar
Another issue that will concern the two countries is the security of the Israelis who will come to the country.
Last month, it was revealed in "Israel Today" that the National Security Headquarters warns Israelis to come to the country from abductions and possible harm by various hostile elements, led by Iran.
The warning from the National Security Council surprised the various security officials in the GSS and the Mossad, who maintain continuous and good contact with their counterparts in Doha.
Both organizations believe that Qatar is very safe, despite the constant presence of a host of hostile elements - from Iran to various terrorist organizations - and that no one has any interest in getting involved with it or diverting world public opinion during the World Cup.
The defense establishment also does not anticipate a problem securing the direct flights, if there are any.
The GSS currently secures direct flights to the Emirates and Bahrain, as well as to Morocco, countries where the potential risk is no different than in Qatar.
To a large extent, direct flights will actually reduce the security risk, because they will make it possible to monitor the ways in which most Israelis arrive in Qatar.
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