For many years Israel did not gain any unique achievements in the world of sport most likely because Jewish history and tradition put more weight on spiritual achievements and education rather than in athletic and sport education. However, since the establishment of the State of Israel and the trend towards leaving the religious way of life, Israeli sport has gradually become more and more serious and professional. In recent years it has made huge steps and gained major achievements and recognition in Europe as well as the rest of the world.
There are several branches of sport worth mentioning when dealing with Israeli sport:
Football (Soccer) - the most popular sport in Israel is football (soccer). There are several leagues similar to the European leagues. The top league is called "Ligat Ha'al" and the second league is the National league (in Hebrew "Liga Leumit"). All Israeli football is governed by the Israel Football Association and international games are now played in Europe and not as previously in earlier years, in Asia. Israeli football is not as classy or has the quality of European football; however, it has improved and become far more professional in the last decade especially in the case of a few good clubs. Some of them have managed to reach the European Champions league such as "Maccabi Tel Aviv" and "Maccabi Haifa". Israeli teams regularly participate in the EUFA Cup and some of them like "Hapoel Tel-Aviv" have reached the higher stages.
Israeli football and basketball were historically connected to Israeli political parties especially the Hapoel teams which were linked to the left wing party "Ha’avoda" (Labor Party) and "Beitar" to the Likud party (the right wing party). These connections are much weaker today due to the fact that football and basketball are now professional and many of the teams owned by private businessmen.
The major football clubs in Israel are: Beitar Jerusalem, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Hapoel Tel-Aviv and Maccabi Haifa.
The second most popular sport in Israel is Basketball. There is also a principal league in basketball and clubs in all cities. The dominant basketball team is Maccabi Tel-Aviv, who has won the local championship more than 50 times. They are also one of the best teams in Europe and have won the European championship 5 times - in 1977, 1981, 2001, 2004 and 2005. Israeli basketball is considered top level and players from all major clubs are now playing for many European teams.
There are several branches of sport where individual Israeli athletes have made remarkable achievements. In Tennis Israeli players are gaining higher and higher in the professional ranks. The main players are Anna Smashnova, Shahar Pe'er (who is the highest ranked tennis player in Israel - 15 by the WTA on January 29, 2007) and Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich. Andi Ram has won the