Israeli Handball Chief Seeks Return of International Games to Israel

A significant diplomatic and sporting meeting took place in Serbia between Idan Mizrahi, Chairman of the Israel Handball Association, and Bozidar Djurkovic, Chairman of the Serbian Handball Association and a prominent figure in international handball. The primary focus of their discussion was the effort to bring international handball matches back to Israel, enhance bilateral cooperation, and elevate the standing of Israeli handball in Europe and globally.

Mizrahi attended the meeting as part of his visit with the Maccabi Rishon LeZion team, which was scheduled to compete against local club Vojvodina in the EHF European Cup. He was joined for a celebratory lunch by Arik Alkalai, Chairman of Maccabi Rishon LeZion, and Amir Aharon, a board member of the Israel Handball Association. The Israeli delegation received a warm reception in Serbia.

During the talks, Mizrahi emphasized the critical importance of resuming international games in Israel for both national teams and clubs, requesting Djurkovic's support in advocating for this cause with influential European and world handball officials. Djurkovic expressed his support for Israel, noting a recent visit and a strong personal connection to the country. He pledged his assistance and voiced hope for the swift return of international matches to Israel.

Beyond the central issue, the officials discussed expanding cooperation between the two handball associations. This includes potential friendly matches between national teams, joint training camps, professional collaborations for both men's and women's teams, developing future talent, and strengthening ties between clubs. Mizrahi presented Djurkovic with a token of appreciation from the Israel Handball Association and extended an invitation for an official visit to Israel.

Mizrahi stated that bringing international games back to Israel has been a key objective since he took office 18 months ago. He recalled successfully hosting games in January of the previous year, but noted that subsequent conflict in March forced teams to play abroad again. Mizrahi has been actively working with top European and world handball bodies to facilitate the return of home games, highlighting a recent agreement with the Slovenian Handball Federation to swap home and away game order, which could provide a significant advantage in upcoming European Championship qualifiers in May. The ultimate goal, he stated, is to qualify for the 2028 European Championship, and he is committed to providing the national team with the best possible conditions. He also emphasized the importance of the network of international relationships built over the past year and a half, which help open doors and strengthen Israel's position. Despite the logistical and financial challenges, seven Israeli teams are currently competing in European tournaments, representing Israel with honor, and Mizrahi vowed to continue supporting them.