He became the first Muslim Arab to hold a ministerial position in the Israeli government when he was appointed Deputy Minister of Health by Yitzhak Rabin in 1992.

Massalha was born in the town of Kafr Qara during the Mandate era.

He attended Tel Aviv University, gaining a BA, and worked as a teacher.

He retained his seat in the 1992 election as a member of the Labor Party (which the Alignment had merged into), and became Deputy Minister of Health in Yitzhak Rabin's government.

He was appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in Ehud Barak's government.