A coalition of grassroots Israel advocacy groups are set to launch a campaign against Qatar’s role in backing Hamas.
Sussex Friends of Israel, the Pro-Israel Response Group and the Israel Forum Task Force will protest against Doha’s funding of the group.
Their campaign will get under way on September 21 with a rally outside the Qatari embassy in central London.
Organisers said they would work to convince football’s world governing body, Fifa, to strip the country of the 2022 World Cup which it is due to host.
A spokesman said: “For too long we, the pro-Israel community, have had to defend Israel from the haters. Now it is time to stop defending and to start showing that Israel is not the enemy and that countries that finance terror are.
“We are asking that anybody who attends might do so dressed in their favourite football shirts, with their favourite football flags, including Israel’s, to help highlight the appalling decision to award Qatar the World Cup.
“We hope that all the various Jewish Leadership groups will be able to join us for this incredibly important opportunity to show our disgust at Qatar’s continued refusal to stop funding terror.”
The Israeli government last month embarked on a low-profile campaign against the Arabian peninsula state, after it emerged as the main backer of Hamas.
Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Mashaal currently resides in Doha and the Qatari news channel, Al Jazeera, is supportive of the movement.
Israeli envoy to the UN Ron Prosor recently described Qatar as a "Club Med for terrorists", adding that "one has to question Fifa's decision to reward Qatar with the 2022 World Cup".
Meanwhile, a protest against perceived bias in the BBC’s coverage of Israel and the Palestinians is due to take place on Thursday. Organised by the Zionist Federation, it will be outside BBC New Broadcasting House in central London.
