Tamir Sorek
Tamir Sorek studies social, political, and cultural dynamics that shape ethnic and national identities, particularly in the context of Israel/Palestine. Sorek combines both quantitative and qualitative methods in his work. In his book "Arab Soccer in a Jewish State: The Integrative Enclave" (Cambridge University Press 2007), Sorek illustrates how a seemingly innocent arena like sports is in effect a powerful political sphere, which has implications for ethnic, religious, civic, national identification, and even political behavior. His book "Palestinian Commemoration in Israel: Calendars, Monuments, and Martyrs" (Stanford University Press 2015) deals with the struggles over the representation of the Palestinian past in Israel.Currently he is writing a social biography of the Palestinian poet and political leader Tawfiq Zayyad.
The right-wing origins of the Jerusalem soccer team that wants to add ‘Trump’ to its name
Beitar Jerusalem is closely aligned with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, and its fans have long viewed themselves as political and economic outsiders. When it’s viewed through this lens, the team’s eagerness to associate itself with Trump and his brand of politics make sense.