Israel sports

Desert diamond: Or Divan and the new dawn of Israeli women’s soccer

Divan is a rare talent in the local landscape, her superb aerial game making her a constant threat on high balls, completing the profile of a truly modern and well-rounded player.

|ByITAY GODER
AT JUST 16, Or Divan has skipped the natural order of Israeli soccer. From scoring over 100 goals in a season to her time in the World Cup qualifiers, the striker is proving that greatness doesn’t wait for age.
OMRI GANDELMAN (with ball) celebrates after scoring the equalizing goal in Israel’s 2-2 friendly draw with Georgia in Tbilisi over the weekend.

Israeli national soccer team draws at Georgia in friendly

Ahead of the Nations League matches coming up in the fall, Israel played Georgia to a 2-2 draw in friendly action over the weekend at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
ISRAELI GOALKEEPER Daniel Peretz commands his box with authority, delivering another match-saving performance as Southampton’s ‘Iron Dome’ continues to fuel the club’s promotion charge from English soccer’s second tier.

From Bayern’s bench to Southampton’s savior: Daniel Peretz and the rise of the ‘Iron Dome’

Daniel Peretz was the “Golden Boy” of Israeli soccer, a player who had famously stared down German strikers at the U-21 Euros and won.

|ByITAY GODER
Josiah-Jordan James has emerged as a key contributor for Hapoel Jerusalem as the Reds chase a EuroCup semifinal berth from their temporary home in Belgrade.

Jerusalem eyes EuroCup semis as ‘Triple J’ finds his groove

Josiah-Jordan James has emerged as a key contributor for Hapoel Jerusalem as the Reds chase a EuroCup semifinal berth from their temporary home in Belgrade.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN

Hapoel Tel Aviv stays atop Euroleague with road conquest of Bayern Munich

Hapoel Tel Aviv defeated Bayern Munich by ten points in the match, improving the Reds’ first-place record to 13-5 on the season.

DECEMBER 24, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
ELIJAH BRYANT shoots over a Bayern Munich defender during the Reds’ 82-72 road victory to improve their first-place Euroleague record to 13-5.

Beitar’s late goal shocks Maccabi Haifa at Sammy Ofer Stadium

Combined with Beersheba’s loss, Jerusalem tightens title race • Maccabi Tel Aviv draws Netanya

DECEMBER 24, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
BEITAR JERUSALEM’S Ziv Ben Shimol celebrates with coach Barak Itzhaki after he scored the game-winning goal in the 2-1 road victory over Maccabi Haifa.

Hapoel Tel Aviv owner shoved, called 'dirty Jew' during basketball match in Greece

Following the incident, a complaint was filed with local law enforcement, and the Greek fan who assaulted Ofer Yanai was arrested.

DECEMBER 20, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
The EuroLeague basketball match between KK Crvena zvezda and Hapoel Tel Aviv in Jerusalem, December 16, 2025.

High Court to hear petitions against police ban on protest shirts worn by Hapoel Tel Aviv fans

At issue is a red shirt - the team’s color - bearing symbols associated with the Israel Police, Maccabi Tel Aviv, and the outlawed Kach movement, all crossed out with a diagonal line.

DECEMBER 17, 2025BySARAH BEN-NUN
Israeli law enforcement personnel on horseback disperse a crowd of football club supporters outside Bloomfield Stadium after an Israeli Premier League match between Hapoel and Maccabi was cancelled due to what Israel Police said was public disorder and violent riots, in Tel Aviv, Israel in this scre

'Goals, chaos and rising stars': A wild start to the Israel Premier League soccer season

There were upsets, drama, up-and-coming players, as well as disappointments and unfortunate incidents that the league would no doubt like to improve on as the campaign heads into round two.

DECEMBER 12, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
DAN BITTON and Hapoel Beersheba have been the cream of the crop so far through the first of two rounds of play in the Israel Premier League season.

Israeli soccer star Talia Sommer signs with Gotham FC

For the 21-year-old midfielder from Tel Aviv, the moment marks the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.

DECEMBER 11, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
TALIA SOMMER takes Israeli women’s soccer to new heights by joining the NWSL

Hapoel Beersheba maintains lead atop table

Beitar Jerusalem finishes first round of games in 2nd place • Hapoel Tel Aviv, Maccabi Haifa win

DECEMBER 10, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
IGOR ZLATANOVIC scored the lone goal for first-place Hapoel Beersheba in its 1-0 Premier League victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv at Turner Stadium.

Israeli star Yam Madar shines as Hapoel Tel Aviv wins in Israeli basketball action

Hapoel Tel Aviv rides Madar’s return • Walker, Maccabi TA cruise • Jerusalem escapes Kiryat Ata

DECEMBER 8, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
LONNIE WALKER continued to have the hot hand for Maccabi Tel Aviv, scoring 24 of his 27 points in the first half of the 104-73 rout of Maccabi Rishon Lezion.

Avdija shines as Wolf and Saraf lift Nets in breakout night for Israeli NBA talent

Avdija powered Portland to a key win as Wolf and Saraf helped Brooklyn notch back-to-back victories.

DECEMBER 5, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
Brooklyn Nets' Danny Wolf, December 5, 2025.

Israel falls to 0-2 with costly Croatia basketball defeat

Beit Halachmi admits the Israeli national basketball team ‘hardly practiced’ in a frustrating start to World Cup qualifying.

DECEMBER 3, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
BAR TIMOR (center) and the Israel national team got off to a terrible start to World Cup qualifying, dropping its record to 0-2 with a 85-71 to Croatia.