Prominent lawyer Alan Dershowitz has announced his departure from the Democratic Party, citing the presence of several “anti-Semitic” members within the party and the recent Democratic National Convention in which Vice President Kamala Harris became the party's presidential nominee.
Speaking with radio host Zev Brenner on the “Talkline with Zev Brenner” show, Dershowitz noted that the Democratic National Convention had lent legitimacy to anti-Israel speakers and anti-Israel protesters outside the convention center.
“It was the most anti-Semitic, anti-Israel, anti-Zionist convention I've ever been to,” he said. “I'm disgusted by the Democratic National Convention. I'm disgusted.”
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Alan Dershowitz made the remarks during an interview in Jerusalem, Israel, on May 18, 2010. The prominent lawyer announced his departure from the Democratic Party. (Lior Mizrahi)
“I'm no longer a Democrat. I'm an independent,” he added, saying he wouldn't say who he'd vote for in the presidential election until possibly after Nov. 1. “I want to see how they deal with Iran. I want to urge this administration to support Israel.”
The Harvard Law School professor emeritus said his departure from the party was long overdue and that he had stepped back gradually over time.
“A lot of things led me in that direction,” he said. Dershowitz noted that Harris' failure to preside over a joint session of Congress during a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu played a big role in his decision.
Some Democrats skipped Netanyahu's speech in protest.
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New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. ((Photo by: Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu, Getty Images))
What finally got him going, he said, was a convention held in Chicago last month.
He named anti-Israel Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, as well as the Rev. Al Sharpton, who has been accused of anti-Semitism in the past.
He also said there were anti-Israel protesters outside the rally calling for the destruction of Israel.
“That's not my party,” Dershowitz said.
The Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel has caused sharp divisions within the Democratic Party, with some party members refusing to condemn the terror group and blaming Prime Minister Netanyahu for Israel's military response.
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Many Democrats called for a ceasefire and urged Israel to exercise restraint, but failed to apply similar standards to Hamas and Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed terrorist organizations based in Lebanon north of Israel.
