Ataa Jaber picked up 9 tackles for Israel’s youth team, but the Neftchi Baku (team coached by Adrian Mutu) came under heavy criticism after opting to represent Palestine.

Ataa Jaber (white shirt)Photo: GIUSEPPE CACACE / AFP / Profimedia

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Ataa Jaber explained why he decided to play for Palestine

A native of Israel, Jaber started the match between Palestine and Lebanon (0-0, Asian qualification for the 2026 World Cup), and at the end spoke about his decision. It was the football player’s first match since the beginning of the war (fourth in total).

“Everything became clear when I saw Rami Hamada (no other player in a similar situation). I learned from him that I can play for the Palestinian national team. I had not the slightest suspicion.

I made the decision to represent Palestine for several reasons. First of all because I am Palestinian. In the second, because I can. And finally, to send a message to those in the middle that they have another option.

There are also disadvantages, but if a football player decides to play for the Palestinian national team, his path will be smoother” – This is Jaberquoted by Sport5.

“Ataa Jaber’s gesture is betrayal” / “You make me vomit with your hypocrisy”

FC Ashdod, Jaber’s former club, demanded that he be stripped of his Israeli citizenship.

“The participation of a player in a match of the Palestinian national team, especially in the context of the October massacre and at a time when Israeli citizens are in full struggle, means that his gesture is by definition treason!

Anyone who wants to represent Palestine has to be a Palestinian citizen and that’s it. Ataa does not deserve to be a citizen of Israel! We ask the Minister of Internal Affairs to consider the issue of leaving citizenship” – FC Ashdodreports Sport5.

Jaber was also criticized by his former Israeli colleagues.

  • Yonatan Cohen (Maccabi Tel Aviv): – I am ashamed that you were my junior captain.
  • Shatar Hirsh: “I shared a locker room with you for over a year, we got along well, and now I understand that you would be happy if I or my colleagues died. You make me tear up with your hypocrisy because you played here and didn’t say a word. If there is justice, you will not be a citizen of Israel even for a minute.”