The Israel Football Association on Wednesday reassured Israeli soccer fans that they will be able to attend the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in late November.
The statement came in response to an Israel Hayom report earlier in the day that former Balad head Azmi Bishara – who fled Israel after he was suspected of spying for the Hezbollah terrorist organization during the 2006 Second Lebanon War – was trying to persuade the Qatari regime to prevent Israeli soccer fans from attending the event.
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"These are things that are finalized at the ministerial and governmental level; we are unaware of any such prohibition," the IFA said.
Some 15,000-30,000 Israelis, some of them Arab Israelis, plan on traveling to Qatar in late November and have already purchased tickets to games.
Qatar had already promised FIFA, the sport's world governing body, that fans from all countries would be allowed to enter the country during the World Cup.
"As long as it's permissible to enter Qatar, we don't expect there to be any problems. Security matters involving warnings and such are the jurisdiction of the Israeli security services, not the Football Association," a senior IDF official said.
Meanwhile, Qatari newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, which Bishara helped found, also responded to the Israel Hayom report, saying, "Dr. Azmi Bishara is an Arab writer and philosopher, who has nothing to do with the things the paper [Israel Hayom] attributes to him without trying to evidence or prove. Our Israel affairs editor believes the report was part of an incitement campaign against [Arab Israelis] on one hand, and on the other – based on what was recently published in the American press and several Israeli papers regarding the 'positive' role Qatar is playing in lowering tensions in the occupied areas."
Bishara settled in Qatar after fleeing Israel in 2007. Under the protection of the regime, he has also been serving as an advisor to Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Qatar also funds the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, which Bishara founded and chairs. Bishara has also received a diplomatic passport from the Qatari regime.
Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani was expected to visit Tehran on Thursday, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported.
Reuters reported on Sunday that Qatar's emir was due to travel to Iran and later Germany, Britain, and other European states to discuss efforts to revive Iran's 2015 nuclear deal and energy security in Europe.
"Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will travel to Iran tomorrow to follow up on recent agreements and expand bilateral ties, notably cooperation on the holding of the 2022 Football World Cup," IRNA said on Wednesday.
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