The Palestine League, also known as The Eretz Israel League, was an association football league during the British Mandate of Palestine (now Israel), which was contested from 1928 to 1948. It was organised by the Eretz Israel Football Association, and is therefore regarded as the original incarnation of the modern Israeli top flight league, which has existed since 1948.
Organisation and history Organised by the Eretz Israel Football Association, later to become the Israel Football Association, it is regarded as a predecessor of the modern Israeli Premier League, as well as a former part of the Israeli football league system. Because of violent conflicts involving the Yishuv, its scheduling was inconsistent and in some seasons no national championship was held. The league was suspended for two seasons after 1947 amidst the termination of the British Mandate over the country in May 1948, the independence of the State of Israel at the same time, and the subsequent war between Israel and several surrounding countries. The Palestine League was formally superseded in 1949 by the new Israeli League, Liga Alef.
The Palestine League was first won by a team representing the British Police force, who finished the season unbeaten. They also won the People's Cup that season, in doing so winning the double. Except for Jerusalem-based British Police's initial victory, only clubs from Tel Aviv won the title during the Mandate period; Hapoel and Maccabi Tel Aviv won five and four championships respectively.
Seasons Key †Champions also won the People's Cup during the same season(number of titles)A running tally of the total number of championships won by each club is kept in brackets.
Full league standings and top scorer details not known at this time. Season Winner (number of titles)Notes1928Maccabi Hasmonean Jerusalem (1)The Israeli Football Association–1931–32British Police (1)†–1932–33–1933–34Hapoel Tel Aviv (1)†–1934–35Hapoel Tel Aviv (2)1935–36Maccabi Tel Aviv (1)–1936–37Maccabi Tel Aviv (2)–1937–38Hapoel Tel Aviv (3)†1938–391939–40Hapoel Tel Aviv (4)–1940–41–1941–42Maccabi Tel Aviv (3)–1942–431943–44Hapoel Tel Aviv (5)–1944–451945–46–1946–47Maccabi Tel Aviv (4)†–1947–48A Break in League Play Aspaklaria Shel HaSport (The Sport Mirror), 11 January 1948, p. 1, col. 6 –1948–49–
Winner Titles Years won Hapoel Tel Aviv 5 1934, 1935, 1938, 1940, 1944 Maccabi Tel Aviv 4 1936, 1937, 1942, 1947 Maccabi Hasmonean Jerusalem 1 1928 British Police 1 1931 Nordia(Beitar) Tel Aviv 1 1948
See also Football in Israel Ligat Ha'al Liga Alef
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