Ali El-Khatib (Arabic: علي الخطيب, Hebrew: עלי חטיב; born 18 March 1989) is a professional footballer who plays for Hapoel Umm al-Fahm. Born in Israel, he has represented the Palestine national team.

Ali El-Khatib
Personal information
Full name Ali El-Khatib
Date of birth (1989-03-18) 18 March 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth Shefa-'Amr, Israel
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Attacking Midfielder, Right winger
Team information
Current team
Hapoel Kfar Saba
Number 10
Youth career
2001–2006 Hapoel Shefa-'Amr
2006–2008 Hapoel Haifa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 Maccabi Ironi Shlomi Nahariya 7 (4)
2009 Maccabi Ironi Tamra 12 (1)
2009–2011 Jabal Al-Mukaber (–)
2011 Hilal Al-Quds 2 (2)
2012 Jabal Al-Mukaber 1 (0)
2012 Hapoel Haifa 8 (4)
2012–2013 Maccabi Netanya 27 (6)
2013–2015 Maccabi Akhi Nazareth 45 (14)
2015–2016 Hapoel Haifa 10 (0)
2016–2017 Maccabi Akhi Nazareth 48 (9)
2017–2019 Hapoel Hadera 43 (7)
2019–2020 Maccabi Akhi Nazareth 33 (10)
2020–2024 Ihud Bnei Shefa-'Amr 74 (47)
2024 Hapoel Kfar Saba 8 (1)
2024– Hapoel Umm al-Fahm 0 (0)
International career
2010 Palestine U23 8 (0)
2011 Palestine 6 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 June 2024

Club career

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El-Khatib grew up in the Arab city of Shefa-'Amr in Northern Israel where he played for local side, Hapoel Shefa-'Amr.[1]

He was brought to Palestinian club Jabal Al-Mukaber in by the coach, Samir Issa, in 2012. While playing for them, a controversy erupted over El-Khatib's contract.

Hapoel Haifa had given him a trial after someone had informed the coach of El-Khatib's talents. He was then chosen to join the club after 5 or 10 minutes of his try-out.

However, the signing caused an outrage with his previous club, who alleged that he had three-and-a-half years left on his contract, resulting in them taking the case to FIFA after a Tel Aviv District Court denied their appeal. El-Khatib denied that he signed a contract with the club, claiming that they had forged his signature on the contract. The president of Jabal Al-Mukaber compared Hapoel's action to that of a horse thief under the pretence that they stole a player who was under contract.[2]

Hapoel Haifa

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In a league match on April 1, 2012, he was involved in a mass brawl in which he was assaulted by staff members. The match, which was against Maccabi Petah Tikva, had ended with a free-kick goal for the hosts, Maccabi Petah Tikva. Immediately after the final whistle, the players went at each other.

Petah Tikva's goalkeeping coach, Ami Ganish, had unprovokingly headbutted El-Khatib which knocked him down. Afterwards, Yigal Maman, a high-ranking employee kicked him in the head while he was on the ground, causing him to lose consciousness.

El-Khatib had to be taken to the hospital and was treated for a fractured jaw and missing teeth. The two members of staff were detained by police.[3]

Maccabi Netanya

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In June 2012 it was announced that Ali El-Khatib has joined Maccabi Netanya.

International career

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As one of a growing number of Arab-Israelis playing professionally in the WBPL and representing Palestine internationally .[4] He stated his dream is to play for Israel, and also said "It would be wonderful if one day the Palestinian national team could play against the Israel national team. Then I would play the first half of the game with one team and the second half with the other team."[2]

He received his first national team cap against Thailand in 2014 World Cup qualifying on July 23, 2011. He scored his first senior team goal in a friendly match against Bahrain, the 67th-minute goal proved to be the winner as the game ended 1–0. 11 days later, he scored his second goal in a crucial match against Sudan which secured Palestine passage to the 2011 Pan Arab Games semifinal.

Career statistics

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Club

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Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Israel League Israel State Cup Toto Cup Europe Total
2008–2009 Maccabi Ironi Shlomi Nahariya Liga Alef 19 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 20 5
Palestine League Cup League Cup Asia Total
2009–2010 Jabal Al Mukaber Premier League - - - - - - - - - -
2010–2011 - - - - - - - - - -
2011 Hilal Al-Quds 2 1 - - - - - - 2 1
2011 Jabal Al Mukaber 1 0 - - - - - - 1 0
Israel League Israel State Cup Toto Cup Europe Total
2011–12 Hapoel Haifa Liga Al 11 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 12 4
2012–13 Maccabi Netanya Liga Al 27 6 1 0 3 0 1 0 32 6
Career total 60 15 3 0 3 0 1 0 67 15

International

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As of 31 January 2012

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Reports
1. 6 December 2011 Al Muharraq Stadium, Arad   Bahrain 1–0 1–0 Friendly
2. 17 December 2011 Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al-Rayyan   Sudan 1–0 2–0 2011 Pan Arab Games

Honours

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  • West Bank Premier League
    • Winner (1): 2009–10
    • Runner-up (1): 2010–11

References

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  1. ^ "Palestinian fury after player joins Israel team". Yahoo! News Singapore. Agence France-Presse. 27 January 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Palestinian, Israeli soccer teams take their battle off the pitch". Haaretz. 2 March 2012.
  3. ^ "Ali Khatib (Hapoel Haifa) loses teeth & consciousness in a shocking assault by two Maccabi Petah Tikva staff members". 101greatgoals.com. 1 April 2012.
  4. ^ – A. AL khateeb – كووورة
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