Israeli basketball teams seek to relocate home matches to Cyprus

Hapoel Jerusalem, Maccabi Tel Aviv, and Hapoel Tel Aviv are currently in negotiations with the Cypriot government and the Cyprus Basketball Federation to host their respective European home games in Cyprus. Due to the ongoing security instability in Israel, these clubs have been forced to play their home matches abroad, with teams like Maccabi having previously used Belgrade, Serbia, and Hapoel Tel Aviv recently hosting a game in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The clubs have expressed interest in utilizing the Spyros Kyprianou Arena in Limassol or the Tassos Papadopoulos-Eleftheria sports hall in Nicosia as their temporary home venues. Proximity to Israel and the presence of a significant Israeli community on the island are cited as primary factors favoring the move to Cyprus over existing arrangements in Serbia or Bulgaria. While discussions are official, the transition depends on final approval from Cypriot authorities and organizational logistics for the upcoming EuroCup and EuroLeague fixtures. These clubs continue to seek stable host environments until the security situation in their home country allows for a return to regular operations.