On Sunday, the Exceptions Committee of the League Administration will discuss the status of citizens who play Israeli basketball for a long time and want to become 'Home Grown' - local players for everything.
According to the Citizens' Law, any group with five foreigners on the staff must register four 'Home Grown', which leaves room for three citizens.
Therefore, any player who is today considered a citizen and will actually become a local player will be able to be included in the four local players, which will greatly strengthen his position in the Israeli player market and also make room for another citizen in the team.
The criteria agreed between the administration and the players' organization according to which the committee will decide whether to change the status of each player are: 1. The player has played at least 7 full seasons in Israel.
2. The player pays full tax.
A player who has served full military service long enough to play only five seasons in the country.
4. If the player has played ten games in the national team enough to play only six seasons in the country.
If all the representatives of the committee deem it appropriate to shorten another season for a particular player according to his special circumstances, they may do so.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has submitted the names of Jake Cohen and John Dibertolomeo so that the committee will discuss a request to change their status from citizens to local Israeli players.
Cohen has been playing in Israel since 2013 with a few short breaks and played 25 games for the team.
Dibertolomeo has been in Israel continuously since 2015 and has an Israeli partner.
Hapoel Beer Sheva captain Ben Eisenhart, who has been playing in Israel since 2014 and has an Israeli partner, has also applied, as has Spencer Weiss from Hapoel Haifa, who is developing a fifth season in Israel.