TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel is urging its residents touring to the FIFA World Cup this week to be much less visibly Israeli. The unprecedented inflow of 1000’s of Israeli followers descending on Doha for the primary World Cup within the Center East has raised fears of an embarrassing diplomatic disaster between the nations with no formal diplomatic relations.Israel’s warning is a part of a Overseas Ministry marketing campaign, launched Wednesday, to coach the nation’s soccer followers about legal guidelines and customs within the conservative Muslim nation. The marketing campaign web site, in Hebrew and Arabic, outlines a possible minefield awaiting Israeli vacationers — who don’t have a popularity for being discreet — in Qatar, a rustic that criminalizes homosexuality, bans medicine and restricts alcohol consumption. Like many Gulf Arab residents, together with these within the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which normalized relations with Israeli in 2020, Qataris have a historical past of help to the Palestinian trigger. Additional complicating issues, followers and officers from Israel’s archenemy Iran will probably be on the match in Qatar, a brief, 40-minute flight from Iran. The marketing campaign asks Israelis to cover any Israeli symbols — presumably a reference to Israeli flags and Stars of David.“The Iranian workforce will probably be within the World Cup and we estimate that tens of 1000’s followers will comply with it, and there will probably be different followers from Gulf nations that we don’t have diplomatic relationship with,” mentioned Lior Haiat, a senior Israeli diplomat.“Downplay your Israeli presence and Israeli identification for the sake of your private safety,” Haiat mentioned, addressing the Israeli followers. In a landmark deal, Israelis with out overseas passports can now journey to Qatar for the World Cup regardless of the shortage of ties. Qatar introduced final week it should even enable direct flights from Tel Aviv to Doha for Israelis, in addition to for Palestinians within the West Financial institution and Gaza, whose potential to journey relies on Israeli authorities approval. As a part of the settlement, Qatar will allow Israeli diplomats, by means of a non-public journey firm, to offer consular help to Israelis in the course of the match. The diplomats left for Qatar on Wednesday. Almost 4,000 Israeli and eight,000 Palestinian followers have an entry visa to Qatar for the match. The ministry expects as many as 20,000 Israelis may finally attend the World Cup.“Soccer is one thing many Israelis see as important,” Hayat mentioned. “We’re preparing for the various Israelis who will present up, and not less than a few of them who will want our assist.”With regards to LGBTQ Israeli followers attending the match, the Overseas Ministry web site has curt recommendation: “Not in public.”The web site additionally warns in opposition to public drunkenness, which is against the law in Qatar. Through the World Cup, alcohol will probably be out there solely in designated areas, equivalent to inns and particular “fan zones.”The marketing campaign additionally provides tricks to Israelis struggling to search out lodging due to the tight squeeze within the tiny emirate. It cautions in opposition to bringing prohibited medicine, together with hashish, stepping into brawls and utilizing foul language — all which might have authorized repercussions in Qatar.Israeli officers expressed hope {that a} optimistic, hassle-free Israeli presence in Qatar may advance Israel’s ambitions to additional combine into the area after the normalization offers with two of Doha’s Gulf Arab neighbors. “We very a lot hope issues will go easily,” Haiat mentioned.