Israeli sports

Hapoel Tel Aviv beats Beersheba in OT, while Jerusalem, Mac TA both take wins home

Hapoel Tel Aviv slipped by Hapoel Beersheba 112-108 in overtime to notch the tight win at Yad Eliyahu and improve its Israeli league record to 14-1 and remain in first place.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
HAPOEL TEL AVIV'S Antonio Blakeney blocks a shot during the Reds' 112-108 overtime victory over Hapoel Beersheba in Israeli league action at Yad Eliyahu.
Shimon Smotritsky (left) and James Porter at the weigh-ins ahead of their match at the 559 Fights 120 event in Porterville, California.

Israeli MMA fighter Shimon Smotritsky earns unanimous decision win at 559 Fights 120 - interview

"When I fight like myself, freely, and without trying to entertain someone or try to hype the crowd up and do all this nonsense, I’m the best version of myself," Smotritsky says.

|BySAM HALPERN
One of Hapoel Beersheba's Kings Kangwa with teammates and one of Beersheba's Dan Bitton celebrating goals

Maccabi Tel Aviv keeps pace in Third with conquest of Hapoe

After a fairly even opening 20 minutes, Mathew Cudjoe’s reckless tackle on Helder Lopes saw the midfielder sent off, leaving Sakhnin with only 10 men.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
DANIEL PERETZ begins a new chapter with Hamburger SV as he looks to secure the starting role in the Bundesliga.

Daniel Peretz to Southampton, Manor Solomon to Fiorentina in midseason moves - report

Reports say goalkeeper Daniel Peretz is nearing a loan move to Southampton, while winger Manor Solomon could switch from Villarreal to Fiorentina this month.

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Israel’s Afrifah defends Euro U23 200m title

"I feel I’m standing for a community. Israel is a country that countries hate, so it’s an honor to represent. I want to prove [anti-Israel slander] is not true...and I’m proving it through sports."

JULY 22, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
BLESSING AFRIFAH of Israel (left) competes during the 200m Repechage Round at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Stars align in Tel Aviv: Hapoel, Maccabi steal summer spotlight with Micic, Brissett

The Reds inked one of the all-time Euroleague greats in Vasilije Micic, while the yellow-and-blue brought NBA champion Oshae Brissett on board.

JULY 18, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
One of Hapoel Tel Aviv's new signee Vasilije Micic

Israeli U-19 Women’s National Team sets sights on US after mixed FIBA start

Coach Tal Natan’s squad features a mix of players, but without a doubt, the headliner is Gal Raviv, who will be playing at the University of Miami this coming season.

JULY 15, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
ISRAEL’S UNDER-19 women’s national team is competing this week at the FIBA World Cup in the Czech Republic.

Israel to compete in Gymnastics World Cup despite controversial blockade

The Israeli Gymnastics Federation will participate in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia, following negotiations with Indonesian authorities.

JULY 15, 2025ByAMI GRABER
Artem Dolgopyat, who won Olympic gold in Tokyo, silver in Paris, and the floor exercise at the Worlds two years ago, is among Israel’s potential competitors in Jakarta.

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.

JULY 7, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
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.

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

The Israel Under-19 National Team wrapped up a historic run at the FIBA U19 World Cup with a 79-68 win over host nation Switzerland, clinching seventh place.

JULY 6, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
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

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

Maya Zilbershlag has been listed on FIBA’s website as one of the “10 Players to Watch” and led Israel with 16 points in the opening loss to France.

JULY 6, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
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

Israeli tennis teen star Mika Buchnik bows out at Wimbledon

She was on Court 5 of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, trailing badly in a first-round Wimbledon Girls’ Singles match. Still, she wanted to capture the moment.

JULY 6, 2025ByMICHAEL J. LEWIS
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.

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. 

JULY 5, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
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.

JUNE 23, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
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.