Court Halts Seizure of Bank Guarantees for Hapoel Tiberias

A temporary court order has halted the seizure of 1.3 million shekels in bank guarantees for the Hapoel Tiberias soccer club, following an urgent request from the club's owner, Arieh Kalmanzon. The Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court issued the interim injunction after the club's budget control and trustee, Adv. Liza Hadash, initiated the process to claim the guarantees. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for November 23.

The court noted that an interim order was warranted "given the claims that a special circumstance exception exists due to extraneous considerations in the realization of the guarantees." However, this is a temporary measure, not a final ruling, and does not validate Kalmanzon's claims. His legal team, from Gornitzky & Co., argued that the attempt to seize the guarantees was motivated by ulterior motives, stemming from public criticism Kalmanzon had leveled.

Conversely, the club contends that halting the seizure impedes the payment of salaries to players and staff. In an official statement, the club stated that salary payments were submitted on time for processing via the guarantees. They expressed regret over the injunction request, emphasizing their demand for the guarantees to be released to ensure timely payments. Kalmanzon also announced his intention to terminate the lease agreement with the car leasing company providing vehicles to the club.

The club's trustee and the Mayor of Tiberias, Yossi Nabeh, are collaborating to find solutions, prioritizing salary payments, player and staff rights, and the club's continued operation. The club stressed that the welfare of its players, staff, and its future are paramount, and all parties are working responsibly to ensure its stability and professional continuity.