Israeli sports

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
Shimon Smotritsky (left) and James Porter at the weigh-ins ahead of their match at the 559 Fights 120 event in Porterville, California.
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
FROM PLAYERS to fans, everyone was thrilled with Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Euroleague return to Israel, where the yellow-and-blue beat Villeurbanne 92-84 at Yad Eliyahu.

Tel Aviv beats Villeurbanne in first Euroleague game back in Israel since 2023

The first game back in Israel provided plenty of excitement as Lonnie Walker (29 points) and Roman Sorkin (26 points) led the way for the yellow-and-blue.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN

European battles to Toto Cup surprises

Azulay’s strike lifts Haifa vs Rakow • Beitar Jerusalem stumbles at Riga • Hapoel Tel Aviv into semis

AUGUST 10, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI HAIFA’S Eitan Azulay (center) celebrates after his second-half tally gave the Greens a 1-0 win over Rakow in the first leg of their Conference League duel.

Israel Basketball Association chairman on fiscal recovery, coaching development and player policy

One of the areas that needs more attention is that of working with coaches at all levels and accompanying them in order to help them improve their skills and professionalism, explained Frishman.

AUGUST 7, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
AMOS FRISHMAN marks one year as IBA Chairman with sweeping reforms, bold plans, and a push for professionalism across the board

Following conquest of France, blue-and-white women fall to Italy

With defenses tight in the final minutes, scoring slowed. Israel couldn’t score late, and misses by Raviv and Oren left the door open Italy

AUGUST 7, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
DESPITE ANOTHER outstanding performance from Gal Raviv (left), who finished with a game-high 25 points, the Israel U20 women lost 77-69 to Italy in the quarterfinals of the EuroBasket in Portugal.

Israeli women stun France to reach U20 European quarterfinals

After a winless group stage, few predicted such a turnaround – but led by a 32-point performance from Gal Raviv, the Israeli team rose in unforgettable fashion in Senhora da Hora, Portugal.

AUGUST 6, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
ISRAEL CELEBRATES after beating France 81-74 yesterday at the Under-20 European Championship in Senhora da Hora, Portugal, led by 32 points from Gal Raviv.

Split results for Israeli soccer clubs in Europe

Beitar Jerusalem eased past Sutjeska 5-2 (7-3 on aggregate) to cruise into the third round of UEFA Conference League qualifying.

AUGUST 3, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
BEITAR JERUSALEM players celebrate after their come-from-behind 5-2 conquest of Sutjeska in the second leg of their Conference League duel, a result that propelled the yellow-and-black to a 7-3 aggregate victory and a place in the next round.

Mac TA ousted from Champions League after ’keeper crisis'

Injuries and red card doom yellow-and-blue in Cyprus • Toto Cup highlights resilience and rising stars across Israel

JULY 31, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
DOR PERETZ (in yellow) and Maccabi Tel Aviv were eliminated from the Champions League by Cypriot side Pafos after a 1-0 second-leg defeat this week on an early red card.

Knesset sports subcommittee chair Davidson speaks at 'Post' Trauma Conference

“Sport is a tool to help people go from darkness to light”

JULY 31, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Simon Davidson, Deputy Speaker of the Knesset and Chairman of the Sports Subcommittee, at the Jerusalem Post conference, “A Nation in Trauma”

Maccabi Tel Aviv earns late Champions League first-leg draw vs Pafos

The yellow-and-blue and the Cypriot club played neck-and-neck over the course of 80 minutes.

JULY 23, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI TEL AVIV players celebrate after substitute Elad Madmon’s second-half injury-time tally gave the yellow-and-blue a 1-1 draw against Pafos FC in their Champions League first-leg duel.

First all‐accessible Israeli extreme park opens atop Bloomfield Stadium in Jaffa

Israel’s largest extreme park, SkyField, has opened on the roof of Bloomfield Stadium in Jaffa, offering thrilling and safe attractions under the slogan ‘Extreme for ALL.’

JULY 22, 2025BySIMON KEJZMAN
Woman gearing up for a 35m bungee jump at the OPA! SkyField at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv.

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.