Israeli sports

Beitar Jerusalem ends Eran Zahavi pursuit, closing door on striker's final stop in Israeli soccer

Ultimatum, uncertainty, and chemistry concerns derail talks between Israeli soccer star and capital club.

  FOR MORE than a decade, Eran Zahavi has been one of the biggest stars in Israeli soccer, from Tel Aviv to China, the Netherlands and back. But at 37 years old, his playing future is uncertain.
 OREN SAHAR took a lead role over Israel's last few games at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup, scoring a team-high 21 points in the blue-and-white's 79-68 victory over Switzerland to clinch a seventh-place finish

Blue-and-white closes strong with 7th place at U19 World Cup

 MAYA ZILBERSHLAG and the Israel Under-18 Women’s National Team have high hopes despite a tough group at the European Championship in La Palma, Spain

Israel's basketball star Maya Zilbershlag embraces challenge at U18 Euros tournament

 MIKA BUCHNIK returns a shot to China’s Rueien Zhang during the 18-year-old Israeli’s 7-5, 7-6(6) loss over the weekend in the Wimbledon Juniors tournament.

Israeli tennis teen star Mika Buchnik bows out at Wimbledon


Double draft delight: Israelis Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf unite with the Brooklyn Nets

On this night, two young Jewish athletes made the world stop and take notice – together, in black and white, at the very heart of basketball’s most diverse city. 

 BEN SARAF (L) and DANNY WOLF are slated to become the first Israeli teammates in the NBA.

NBA Draft-bound 19-year-old Israeli guard Ben Saraf shines on big stage

Israeli teen sensation leads Ulm vs Bayern in German finals, strengthens case for 1st-round pick.

 BEN SARAF drives to the basket while playing for Ulm against Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga finals, which the 19-year-old Israeli hopes to win tonight ahead of the NBA Draft.

Israel U19 basketball team heads to FIBA World Championship in Europe

Israel’s U19 basketball team overcomes hurdles to compete in the FIBA World Championship this June.

 ISRAEL’S UNDER-18 National Team poses after its fourth-place finish at the 2024 EuroBasket clinched the country a spot in this year’s Under-18 World Championship.

Israeli basketball team given 24-hour ultimatum on FIBA U19 World Cup participation

Several countries have offered to host the team for training purposes, but without security clearance and logistical approval, the squad remains sidelined.

 THE ISRAEL Under-18 team celebrates in August 2024 after qualifying for this year’s U19 World Championships, a tournament that is now in jeopardy for the blue-and-white squad due to the ongoing war with Iran

Maccabiah Games postponed to 2026 in shadow of Israel's war with Iran

The 2025 Maccabiah Games, set for July, have been postponed until 2026 due to escalating security risks in Israel.

 THEN US PRESIDENT Joe Biden poses with athletes at the opening ceremony of the 21st Maccabiah in Jerusalem in July 2022. On Monday, this year's edition of the Games was officially postponed until next summer due to the war with Iran.

The games must not go on: Iran attacks halt Israeli basketball finals, other sports

Celebrations quickly gave way to anxiety as sirens echoed across central Israel and the specter of war overshadowed the sports world.

 YAD ELIYAHU sits empty as the Israel basketball league finals remain on hold amid escalating tensions with Iran. The decisive Game 3 between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem has been indefinitely postponed due to security concerns

Rishon-vs-Eilat Leumit League finals heads to decisive Game 5

Maccabi Rishon Lezion defeated Hapoel Eilat 92-87 to knot up the Leumit Final series at 2-2 and send it to a winner-take-all fifth game down south by the Red Sea.

 MACCABI RISHON LEZION forward DJ Burns had a game-high 26 points in the 92-87 win over Hapoel Eilat.

Israel’s sports world pays tribute to fallen soldiers Yoav Raver and Chen Gross

Raver chose to enlist in the IDF's Yahalom unit as a combat engineer, though he could have continued playing basketball professionally.

 Yoav Raver Hapoel played for Kfar Saba youth basketball team before his death in the Gaza Strip on Friday, June 6, 2025.

The Jewish boxer: Dmitriy Salita represents Judaism in and out of the ring - interview

Once, Salita fought other boxers in the ring; now he fights for other boxers to give them a shot at getting in the ring.

 DMITRIY SALITA praying at the Western Wall during his first trip to Israel, 2009

Police arrest dozens of soccer players suspected of fraud and embezzlement

They are suspected of fraud and embezzlement of public funds. Also held and questioned were a doctor, a lawyer, and a staffer at the NII. 

Police car at night

New era in Israeli soccer: American group led by Ross Kestin to buy Maccabi Netanya

Maccabi Netanya will be acquired by US firm Aliya Capital Partners, led by Ross Kestin, pending approval. The deal reflects rising foreign interest in Israeli soccer.

Israel and US flags