title: 1996–97 Liga Artzit
text: # 1996–97 Liga Artzit
  
  The 1996–97 Liga Artzit season saw Hapoel Ashkelon win the title and earn promotion to the top division for the first time in their history. Ironi Ashdod were also promoted.
  
  At the other end of the table, Hapoel Kiryat Shmona and Hapoel Hadera were relegated to Liga Alef.
  
  ## Final table
  
  | Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Hapoel Ashkelon | 30 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 38 | 15 | +23 | 63 | Promoted to Liga Leumit |
  | 2 | Ironi Ashdod | 30 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 48 | 26 | +22 | 57 | Promoted to Liga Leumit |
  | 3 | Maccabi Netanya | 30 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 53 | 35 | +18 | 55 | |
  | 4 | Hakoah Ramat Gan | 30 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 40 | 29 | +11 | 47 | |
  | 5 | Hapoel Bat Yam | 30 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 36 | 28 | +8 | 43 | |
  | 6 | Maccabi Jaffa | 30 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 44 | 38 | +6 | 43 | |
  | 7 | Maccabi Kafr Kanna | 30 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 33 | 32 | +1 | 42 | |
  | 8 | Hapoel Ramat Gan | 30 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 29 | 26 | +3 | 38 | |
  | 9 | Beitar Tel Aviv | 30 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 27 | 37 | −10 | 37 | |
  | 10 | Maccabi Acre | 30 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 28 | 29 | −1 | 36 | |
  | 11 | Maccabi Kiryat Gat | 30 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 26 | 41 | −15 | 35 | |
  | 12 | Hapoel Ashdod | 30 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 29 | 34 | −5 | 32 | |
  | 13 | SK Nes Tziona | 30 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 30 | 42 | −12 | 32 | |
  | 14 | Maccabi Yavne | 30 | 9 | 5 | 16 | 26 | 50 | −24 | 32 | |
  | 15 | Hapoel Kiryat Shmona | 30 | 6 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 34 | −10 | 31 | Relegated to Liga Alef |
  | 16 | Hapoel Hadera | 30 | 5 | 11 | 14 | 27 | 42 | −15 | 26 | Relegated to Liga Alef |
  