German soccer team severs tie with Saudi Arabian airline over Israeli passengers

(JTA) — A German soccer team withdrew from a sponsorship agreement with Saudi Arabia’s national airline because it refuses to ticket Israeli citizens.

The FSV Frankfurt team abrogated the contract with Saudia this week after criticism leveled by Jewish groups and other organizations, according to the Associated Press.

The airline’s refusal to transport Israeli citizens was first reported in the New York Post.

The airline’s director told the Post in July that it does not fly Israeli citizens because they are not allowed into Saudi Arabia. In the case of a delayed or rerouted plane, Jews could land in the country, which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel.