Israel beaches alive with sound of 'national sport' matkot It starts with a simple knock .. then another, and another. For many on Israel's beaches, it's the sound of a popular sport, while for others it turns the seafront into a battlezone. Matkot, a kind of beach paddleball without rules or points, is the most popular game on Israel's beaches, with fierce, hard-hitting sessions played on the Tel Aviv waterfront and shores across the country. An AFPTV voiced report