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

Israeli motorcyclist Alona Ben Natan will race past dunes and prejudice at UAE’s Baja World Cup

Israeli rider enters the Dubai International Baja, aiming for a global title, carrying a message shaped by resilience, loss, and belief that human connection can survive even when governments clash.

NOVEMBER 18, 2025ByGABRIEL COLODRO/THE MEDIA LINE
Israeli Motorcyclist Alona Ben Natan Will Race Past Dunes and Prejudice at UAE’s Baja World Cup

Israel national soccer team aims to finish 2026 World Cup qualifiers on a strong note

Ben Shimon & Co. close World Cup qualifiers at Moldova seeking redemption, growth, and steps toward future success

NOVEMBER 14, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
‘YOU DON'T choose when to take things seriously,’ said Israel coach Ran Ben Shimon this week before the national team’s final qualifier in Moldova.

Baron, Meyers power Israel to comeback victory over Bosnia

Alyssa Baron leads Israel Women’s Basketball to a 98-91 win over Bosnia in the EuroBasket qualifiers, with Abby Meyers and Daniel Raber contributing big performances.

NOVEMBER 14, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
IN HER first game with the Israel national team, Abby Meyers scored 21 points in a 98-91 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Heart, heartbreak at Bloomfield: Bermans’ return and Beitar’s stunning rout of Mac TA

Former Gaza hostages Gali and Ziv Berman attended the game, thanking Maccabi Tel Aviv players and fans for their embrace of "endless love."

NOVEMBER 10, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
RELEASED HOSTAGES, and twins, Ziv (left) and Gali (right) Berman are honored on the pitch at Bloomfield Stadium before the Maccabi Tel Aviv-Beitar Jerusalem match.

Israel wins gold and silver at World Championships in jiu-jitsu and sambo

Two young Israeli fighters also made their senior debuts: Yanai Kadosh (19) and Vladi Polotsky (19), both from the Otzma Bat Yam club.

NOVEMBER 9, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
Israeli jiu-jitsu gold medalist Omri Haviv at Jiu-Jitsu World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.

Hapoel Jerusalem captures Winner Cup title after tense final vs Hapoel Tel Aviv

The victory marked the seventh time Jerusalem won the Winner Cup, with the most recent coming in 2023.

NOVEMBER 9, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
HAPOEL JERUSALEM players celebrate with the Winner Cup trophy after beating Hapoel Tel Aviv 89-84 in Saturday night’s final at the Pais Arena in the capital.

Israel-Premier Tech team lose title sponsor

Canadian-based manufacturer, Premier Tech, said that their reasoning behind sponsoring the team has been "overshadowed to a point where it has become untenable to continue as a sponsor."

NOVEMBER 8, 2025ByREUTERS
: ISRAEL - PREMIER TECH rider Marco Frigo in action as pro-Palestine protestors are pictured in the background during Stage 18 of the Vuelta a Espana in Valladolid, Spain, in September.

Avdija, Blazers rally from 22 down to hand reigning NBA champs Thunder first loss of season

Israeli forward Deni Avdija delivers a near triple-double in a dramatic comeback win, as talk grows about his next big NBA contract.

NOVEMBER 7, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
DENI AVDIJA powered Portland past OKC, handing the reigning NBA champion its first loss of the season, November 5, 2025.

Israel makes waves, wins three medals at Pickleball World Cup

Team Israel made a stunning debut at the Pickleball World Cup in Florida, defeating the reigning world champions and winning one gold and two silver medals.

NOVEMBER 6, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
MANY FORMER tennis stars, such as Andre Agassi, have taken up pro pickleball.

From LeBron to Holon: Jordan McRae’s Israeli homecoming and his Purple pride - interview

Jordan McRae, a former NBA basketball player, discusses his prolific career and return to the Israeli league with The Jerusalem Post.

NOVEMBER 6, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
FORMER NBA champion Jordan McRae has embraced Hapoel Holon’s spirit in his return to the Holy Land, hoping to lead the Purples back to prominence.