Israel's World Cup qualifiers in Norway and Italy are being overshadowed by security concerns, with the mayor of the northern Italian city of Udine warning about the situation ahead of the match scheduled to be played there next week.

Israel visit Norway on Saturday and Italy on Tuesday in Group I. The first match is at the Norway national team's home Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo while the Italy game will be hosted at Serie A club Udinese's Stadio Friuli, with limited attendances.

In recent weeks, demonstrators have taken to the streets in Italy against Israel's offensive in Gaza and in solidarity with the humanitarian aid flotilla intercepted by the Israelis while trying to break a naval blockade off the Palestinian enclave.

Clashes with police were reported in cities including Rome and Mi

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