Ali El-Khatib

Ali El-Khatib was born in 1989 in Shefa-Amr

Ali El-Khatib was born on 18 March 1989 in Shefa-Amr, in northern Israel, to an Arab family that also defines itself as Palestinian. He came up through the youth team of Hapoel Shefa-Amr and later the youth team of Hapoel Haifa.

After playing in lower Israeli leagues, he moved to the West Bank Premier League and played there for about 3 seasons. He won that league in 2009-10. In January 2012 he signed with Hapoel Haifa, and his former club Jabal Al-Mukaber disputed the move, while he said it had forged his signature.

In a 2012 match against Maccabi Petah Tikva, he was attacked after the final whistle by 2 club staff members and was treated in hospital for a broken jaw. He later played for Maccabi Netanya, Maccabi Ahi Nazareth, Hapoel Hadera, Ihud Bnei Shefa-Amr, Hapoel Kfar Saba and other clubs.

He made his debut for the Palestine national team on 23 July 2011 against Thailand. In December 2011 he scored his first goal against Bahrain, and later scored against Sudan to send Palestine to the Pan Arab Games semifinal.