'Israel' urges settlers to downplay 'identity' at Qatar World Cup
An Israeli journalist at the Qatar World Cup
Israeli media reported that the occupation’s government urged Israelis attending the World Cup tournament in Qatar “to be less visibly Israeli”.
The Israeli occupation pressed Israelis to keep a low profile, most notably hiding Israeli symbols — in reference to “Israeli flags and Stars of David”.
While Israeli officials voiced hope that “a positive, hassle-free Israeli presence in Qatar could advance "Israel’s" ambitions to further integrate into the region after the normalization deals,” as per Israeli media, the situation on the ground dashed their hopes, as football fans from all around the world have been snubbing Israeli journalists in the country.
Israeli journalists failed to interview World Cup fans, most notably Arabs, despite exerting strained efforts, illustrating that the normalization deals inked by four Arab countries with the Israeli occupation don’t convey the sentiments of their nationals.
Meanwhile, fans around the world also shunned Israeli journalists in protest against the brutal human rights violations “Israel” commits against Palestinians.
Since the World Cup kicked off, there have been various videos that went viral of fans refusing to be interviewed by Israeli media.
Israeli Channel 12's reporter hinted that Israeli authorities are "concerned about what is happening with the Israelis in Qatar." In response, Channel 12's Nir Dvori backed the occupation’s request that Israelis conceal their "identity”.
Occupation media also revealed that "the occupation authorities protested against the treatment of Israelis in Qatar."
"The Qatar World Cup has brought 'Israel' face to face with an unpleasant truth and harsh reality that is extremely painful for Israelis, as for the first time all those Israelis who to date have been so enthusiastic about the Arab or Persian Gulf, have now had their first bitter taste of the rejection, disregard, and refusal to accept Israelis in an Arab Muslim state," according to an article in the Israeli newspaper "Israel Hayom" titled "Qatar World Cup shows 'Israel' is still hated."
“All those who claim that the inhabitants of the Gulf states harbor no ill will toward the 'State of Israel', have now seen their theory shot to pieces and have woken up to an entirely different reality,” it added.
Read more: Israelis complain about treatment in Qatar World Cup