Introduction
Abdallah Jaber (Arabic: عبد الله جابر; born 17 February 1993) is a Palestinian-Israeli professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Israeli Premier League club Hapoel Hadera. He was a member of the Palestine national team, until he returned to the Israeli Premier League. He is the youngest Palestinian footballer to amass 35 international caps, having started 35 of Palestine's 40 games between May 2014 and August 2018.
Club career
Move to West Bank Premier League
Jaber made his professional debut in Israel's top tier with Ironi Ramat HaSharon in the 2011/12 season playing 23 minutes as a substitute. He was part of the team that finished sixth (the club's best ever finish) in the league the following season.
After not being given his chance at Ramat HaSharon, Jaber made the decision to move to the Palestinian league signing with Hilal Al-Quds of the West Bank Premier League in 2013/14. Jaber proved to be an immediate hit, walking directly into the starting lineup. He won the Palestine Cup that season with Hilal at the end of his first season.
Jaber made his AFC Cup debut with Hilal Al-Quds in 2015 and helped keep a clean sheet in playoff qualifier vs eventual quarterfinalists Al-Jaish (0–0, Hilal lost on penalties).
At the beginning of the 2015/16 season, Jaber elected to sign with Ahli Al-Khalil. After winning the Palestine Super Cup against Shabab Al-Dhahrieh and the Palestine Cup against Ittihad Shujaiyah, he helped qualify the team for the group stage, playing all 90 minutes 1–0 win vs. Khujand (Tajikistan).
Move to Egyptian Premier League
In August 2016, Abdallah Jaber agreed a three-year deal with Al Mokawloon Al Arab of the Egyptian Premier League. His contract was voided three days later. The following year, Jaber signed for Alexandria-based Al Ittihad but the deal was voided again with the club revealing that the player's Israeli passport had scuppered his registration with the Egyptian Football Association.
Hapoel Hadera
On 25 May 2020, signed the Israeli Premier League club Hapoel Hadera.
International career
Abdallah Jaber earned his first cap, aged 21, in the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup opening game when Palestine faced Kyrgyzstan. Despite his inexperience he helped Palestine keep a clean sheet in a game they won 1–0. He played 360 of the 450 minutes of the tournament helping Palestine lift the title without conceding a goal en route to their first AFC Asian Cup appearance.
His first international goal came in his 8th cap in a 2–0 friendly win vs. Pakistan. He scored his second goal in October 2017, in a 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification match against Bhutan.
At the 2015 AFC Asian Cup he was one of only two Palestine players to start and play every single minute of the tournament. His performances were widely regarded as one of the few highlights of an otherwise dour campaign that saw Palestine lose all three games.
Jaber remains a crucial player for Palestine, having started and played every single minute of the side's 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification.
International goals
- Scores and results list Palestine's goal tally first.
| No | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 12 October 2014 | Punjab Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan |  Pakistan |
2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 2. | 10 October 2017 | Dora International Stadium, Hebron, Palestine |  Bhutan |
2–0 | 10–0 | 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
Achievements
- AFC Challenge Cup
- Winner (1): 2014
- Palestine Cup
- Winner (5):2013–14, 2014–15, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17
- Palestine Super Cup
- Winner (2): 2014, 2015
- Yasser Arafat Cup
- Winner (1): 2014