Beitar Jerusalem is one of Israel's most famous soccer clubs, and today they're making global headlines for their decision to honor US President Donald Trump. The club has renamed itself as Beitar 'Trump' Jerusalem, in response to Trump's latest decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
In a statement shared on social media, the club announced that they "are happy to honor the President for his love and support with a gesture of our own." Beitar Jerusalem called Trump's act a "courageous move" and chose to add his namesake to their team moniker for giving international recognition to the city.
The football club has been penalized in the past for its fans, known as "La Familia," expressing anti-Arab and anti-Muslim sentiments and chants during matches.
CNN reported that with this latest decision, the Trump administration was set to break "from decades of established American policy and international practice," and that moving the embassy to Jerusalem would only inflame the regional instability that already exists among Israel, Iran, and Palestine.
"On December 6, 2017, at my direction, the United States finally and officially recognized Jerusalem as the true capital of Israel. Today we follow through on this recognition and open our embassy in the historic and sacred land of Jerusalem," Trump said in a filmed announcement for the relocated embassy on Monday.
As it turns out, the embassy move has proved deadly for Palestinians who are protesting at the border fence at Gaza. The Palestinian Ministry of Health has recorded that 43 people have been killed during demonstrations on Monday, CNN reports. This number combined with the previous deaths from protests beginning on March 30, mark a total of 90 deaths in response to the protests of the embassy move.
While Beitar 'Trump' Jerusalem celebrates the recognition of their city, others in the region are demonstrating—and risking their lives—to voice their disapproval of the decision at the treacherous border fence at Gaza.
