Ataa Jaber (Arabic: عطاء جابر, Hebrew: עטאא ג'אבר; born 3 October 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Qatar Stars League club Qatar SC. Born in Israel, he plays for the Palestine national team.
Early life
Jaber was born in Majd al-Krum, Israel, to a Muslim-Arab family.[2]
Club career
Ataa Jaber got his professional start with Maccabi Haifa making his senior team debut at 17 years old in the 2011–12 season. Unable to reserve a place in the first team, Ataa Jaber signed for Bnei Sakhnin during the 2016–17 season.[3]
He moved to F.C. Ashdod in 2021 on a one-year deal.[4]
In 2022, Jaber made his first move to a foreign league signing with Azerbaijan Premier League club Neftchi Baku.
International career
Jaber had represented and captained the Israel national U21 team. However in 2023, he filed for a nationality switch to represent Palestine internationally.[5] He debuted in a friendly 0–0 tie with Indonesia on 14 June.[6][7]
After the October 7 attacks, Israeli Interior Minister Moshe Arbel called for Jaber's Israeli citizenship to be revoked.[8]
Career Statistics
Club
- As of 28 May 2024[9]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Maccabi Haifa | 2011-12 | Israeli Premier League | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2012-13 | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | |||||
| 2014-15 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | 21 | 0 | |||
| 2015-16 | 19 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | 29 | 2 | |||
| 2016-17 | 3 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||
| Total | 44 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 63 | 2 | ||
| Bnei Sakhnin (loan) | 2014-15 | Israeli Premier League | 10 | 1 | — | — | — | 10 | 1 | |||
| Bnei Sakhnin | 2016-17 | Israeli Premier League | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | |||
| 2017-18 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 26 | 2 | |||
| 2018-19 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 23 | 2 | |||
| 2019-20 | Liga Leumit | 23 | 1 | — | — | — | 23 | 1 | ||||
| 2020-21 | Israeli Premier League | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | 35 | 3 | ||
| Total | 100 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 1 | — | 113 | 8 | |||
| F.C. Ashdod | 2021-22 | Israeli Premier League | 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 2 | ||
| Neftchi Baku | 2022-23 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 28 | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | 4[a] | 1 | 37 | 6 | |
| 2023-24 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 4[a] | 0 | 21 | 3 | |||
| Total | 45 | 8 | 5 | 0 | — | 8 | 1 | 58 | 9 | |||
| Career Total | 229 | 18 | 13 | 1 | 24 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 274 | 22 | ||
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League
Honours
Club
- Maccabi Haifa
- Israel State Cup (1): 2015–16
- Netchi Baku
- Azerbaijan Cup (1): Runner-Up 2022-23 Azerbaijan Cup
References
- ^ "Ataa Jaber". Neftçi PFK. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ ""אם נשמע קריאות גזעניות נעזוב את המגרש"". 4 May 2015.
- ^ ""عطاء جابر قريب من الانضمام لاتحاد أبناء سخنين"". 4 June 2023.
- ^ "" عطاء جابر ينضم للنادي الرياضي أشدود لموسم واحد"". 4 June 2023.
- ^ "" Ataa Jaber completes nationality switch, will represent Palestine"". 4 June 2023.
- ^ "Indonesia vs. Palestine - Football Match Summary - June 14, 2023 - ESPN". ESPN.com.
- ^ "Playing for Palestine: Former captain of Israel's youth soccer team explains why he switched nationalities". Ynetnews. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Soccer player could lose Israeli citizenship over Gaza tribute". Jewish News Syndicate. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ Ataa Jaber at Soccerway
External links
- Ataa Jaber – UEFA competition record (archive)
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