2002–03 Liga Leumit

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The 2002–03 Liga Leumit season saw Maccabi Ahi Nazareth and Bnei Sakhnin promoted to the Israeli Premier League, the first time that two Arab clubs would appear in the top division (at the end of the season, the first Arab club to play in the top division, Hapoel Tayibe, folded).

Maccabi Kafr Kanna and Beitar Avraham Be'er Sheva were relegated to Liga Artzit.

Hapoel Ramat Gan qualified for the UEFA Cup after becoming the first club from outside the top division to win the State Cup. They remain the only club not in the top flight to play in Europe.

Final table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Maccabi Ahi Nazareth 33 18 8 7 48 29 +19 59[a] Promoted to Premier League
2 Bnei Sakhnin 33 17 7 9 36 25 +11 58
3 Hapoel Jerusalem 33 15 12 6 64 41 +23 57
4 Hapoel Nazareth Illit 33 15 10 8 43 24 +19 55
5 Maccabi Herzliya 33 15 10 8 46 36 +10 55
6 Hapoel Haifa 33 11 7 15 37 37 0 40
7 Hapoel Ramat Gan 33 10 9 14 44 53 −9 39 Qualified for UEFA Cup
8 Hapoel Ra'anana 33 10 8 15 36 43 −7 38
9 Tzafririm Holon 33 8 13 12 29 37 −8 37
10 Maccabi Kiryat Gat 33 8 13 12 36 47 −11 35[b]
11 Maccabi Kafr Kanna 33 9 6 18 29 49 −20 32[c] Relegated to Liga Artzit
12 Beitar Avraham Be'er Sheva 33 4 13 16 26 53 −27 25
Source: rsssf.com
Notes:
  1. ^ Three points deducted due to duplicating contracts with a player.
  2. ^ Two points deducted.
  3. ^ One point deducted due to duplicating contracts with a player.
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