Israeli journalists lost the game in Doha in advance

The scene is set in Qatar, one evening outside the soccer world cup. Moroccan supporters, all smiles, hold scarves in their country’s colors in front of a team of foreign reporters. “We are from Israel” One of the journalists is spreading the behind-the-scenes footage of the video circulating on social networks. Momentarily, the Moroccans arrange their equipment and move on. “But we’re new friends, we’ve made peace” The journalist is protesting the diplomatic recognition agreement signed between his country and the Kingdom of Cherif in December 2020. “No to Israel, yes to the Palestinians” Responds one of the fans walking away as Israel continues, in disbelief. “But you signed peace, you signed peace…”

“Only 10% of Arabs are cooperative. The rest of the time, when they realize where I’m coming from, they turn away from me. Most people just run away like I have the plague. Moav Vardi, diplomatic correspondent for Israel’s public audiovisual group KAN

Raz Shechnik, the daily’s special correspondent in Doha, was involved in the accident that evening. Yedioth AhoronotThe largest circulation of the paid press in the Jewish state is not an isolated case. Although it does not maintain official relations with Israel, unlike its neighbors Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, which took the step of recognition months before Morocco, Qatar has opened its borders to Israeli journalists who want to cover the World Cup. The concession established by FIFA rules will lead to the establishment of a temporary air connection between Tel Aviv and Doha.

But, on the ground, the Israeli teams, who expected that the normalization dynamic between their nation and several Arab states would facilitate their work, were very quickly disappointed. Since the start of the competition, they have almost systematically objected to Arab supporters’ refusal to speak to them in solidarity with the Palestinians. This harsh return to reality reminds us that this cause remains a structuring element of Arab identity and reflects the gulf between leaders, mostly unelected, and their people.

“Only 10% of Arabs are cooperative, Moav Vardi, a diplomatic correspondent for Israel’s public audiovisual group KAN, testified. M Magazine World. The rest of the time, when they realize where I’m coming from, they turn away from me. Most people just run away like I have the plague. In some cases, the refusal is accompanied by verbal attacks. » The scene, which was also shared on social media, shows a Saudi supporter telling him: “There is no Israel, there is only Palestine, you are not welcome here. »