Israel Fencing Association

{{Short description|National governing body for fencing in Israel}} {{Infobox sport governing body |name = Israel Fencing Association<br>איגוד הסיוף בישראל |abbrev = |logo = |logosize = |sport = Fencing |category = |image = |caption = |jurisdiction = Israel |founded = 1996 |aff = Fédération Internationale d'Escrime |affdate = |region = European Fencing Confederation |regionyear = |headquarters = Wingate Institute, Israel |location = |president = Yosef Harari |chairman = |chairperson = |chair = |chiefexec = Irina Tal |vicepresident = |director = |secretary = |coach = |womenscoach = |key staff = |operating income = |sponsor = |year closed = |replaced = |prevfounded = |url = www.fencing.org.il |countryflag = Israel }} The '''Israel Fencing Association''' ('''איגוד הסיוף בישראל''') is the national governing body for fencing in Israel.

The Association's headquarters are at Wingate Institute, Israel.<ref name="fencing.org.il">{{cite web|url=http://www.fencing.org.il/|title=איגוד הסיוף בישראל - Israel Fencing Association|publisher=fencing.org.il}}</ref> It is part of the 45-nation European Fencing Confederation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurofencing.info/nations/details/israel|title=Israel Fencing Association - European Fencing Confederation|publisher=eurofencing.info|access-date=2016-11-20|archive-date=2016-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011125504/http://www.eurofencing.info/nations/details/israel|url-status=dead}}</ref> The CEO of the Association is Shalom Cohen.<ref name="fencing.org.il"/>

==History==

The Israel Fencing Association was founded in 1996 in Tel Aviv. In 2004, Dr. Vladimir Shklar was the chairman of the association.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/sports/fencing-aqaba-world-cup-meet-still-uncertain-1.111025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251008162649/https://www.haaretz.com/2004-01-15/ty-article/fencing-aqaba-world-cup-meet-still-uncertain/0000017f-ea1c-da9b-a1ff-ee7f4b870000|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 8, 2025|title=Fencing /Aqaba World Cup meet still uncertain|work=Haaretz}}</ref> In May 2013 Shklar was also elected vice president of the Olympic Committee of Israel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurofencing.info/news/news-israel|title=News from Israel - European Fencing Confederation|publisher=eurofencing.info}}{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> In November 2015, he was named president of the European Fencing Confederation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israeli-junior-fencers-snubbed-by-Saudi-Arabians-in-world-cup-event-441843|title=Israeli junior fencers snubbed by Saudi Arabians in world cup event|work=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref> Uri Harlap then replaced Shklar as president of the Israel Fencing Association.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurofencing.info/news/news-israel-0|title=News from Israel - European Fencing Confederation|publisher=eurofencing.info|access-date=2016-11-20|archive-date=2015-05-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503004348/http://www.eurofencing.info/news/news-israel-0|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2008, Israeli fencer Yuval Freilich, a national under-13 champion, successfully sued the Israel Fencing Association to require it to refrain temporarily from holding fencing competitions on Shabbat (the Jewish sabbath), saying that the Association's actions violated Israel's Equal Opportunities Act.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jpupdates.com/2015/06/24/participant-sues-israel-shooting-federation-for-holding-competition-on-shabbos/|title=Participant Sues Israel Shooting Federation For Holding Competition On Shabbos|work=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=2016-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121045320/http://jpupdates.com/2015/06/24/participant-sues-israel-shooting-federation-for-holding-competition-on-shabbos/|archive-date=2016-11-21|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3612018,00.html|title=Court issues temporary ban on Shabbat fencing meet; Observant 13-year-old fencing champion pleads with High Court to order Fencing Association to halt all Saturday tournaments since he cannot partake in them; cites religious discrimination, breach of Equal Opportunities Act|publisher=ynetnews}}</ref> The Israeli Supreme Court ruled that the Fencing Association's practice was discriminatory, and ordered it to either allow Freilich to compete on a different day or hand him technical victories for any Sabbath match.<ref name="israelnationalnews.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/156437|title=Israeli World Champion and Sabbath Competition; An Israeli teen who is a world champion in fencing struggles over Sabbath competitions.|publisher=Israel National News}}</ref> Freilich subsequently won the age group World Cadet Championships in Moscow, and the age group European Championships. But the ruling expired after two years, and did not result in any permanent change.<ref name="israelnationalnews.com"/> The Israeli Supreme Court declined to intervene a second time.<ref name="israelnationalnews.com"/>

Jerusalem, Israel, was chosen to host of the European Fencing Confederation's Under-20 Championships in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eurofencing.info/competitions/championships|title=European Fencing COnfederation List of European Championships}}</ref>

== References ==  {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.fencing.org.il/ Israel Fencing Association website] (Hebrew) *[https://www.facebook.com/%D7%90%D7%99%D7%92%D7%95%D7%93-%D7%94%D7%A1%D7%99%D7%95%D7%A3-%D7%91%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%9C-Israel-fencing-association-173459096135772/ Israel Fencing Association Facebook page]

Category:National members of the European Fencing Confederation Fencing Category:Fencing organizations Category:Organizations based in Tel Aviv Category:1996 establishments in Israel Category:Sports organizations established in 1996 Category:Fencing in Israel