Alan Dershowitz, a renowned author, lawyer and Harvard law
professor, discussed his most recent book, “The Case for
Israel,” at UCLA on Tuesday, sparking a wide range of
reactions which ended in a heated debate among students and
non-students alike.
More than 100 people lined up outside Royce Hall to listen to
Dershowitz, including a small group of protesters.
Dershowitz spent the bulk of his lecture focusing more on his
motivations for writing the book than the content of the book.
Dershowitz said he decided to write “The Case for
Israel” after a student approached him last year and said he
was afraid to argue against anti-Israeli views expressed by his
peers because it “wasn’t the cool thing to
do.”
Dershowitz said anti-Israeli attitudes are becoming more
prominent on college campuses around the country, and that even
though many agree with Israel’s position, they are afraid to
express these views because of their unpopularity.
“This was not a book that I wanted to write, and it was
not a book that I should have had to write,” he said.
“But someone had to make the case for Israel.”
He said a double standard exists when it comes to Israel because
the country has to fight for things other nations take for granted,
like national sovereignty. “No one would have to make the
case for Canada or France,” he said.
About 10 protesters assembled outside Royce Hall, many carrying
signs expressing sympathy for the Palestinians. One protester, who
wished to remain anonymous, discussed her motivation.
“We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people in
expressing their right to national sovereignty, a right repeatedly
supported by the (United Nations) and countries around the
world,” she said. “We believe the position Dershowitz
is advocating today directly compromises this goal.”
Audience members cited many reasons for attending the event,
though a pronounced majority tended to be pro-Israel. In general,
students expressed satisfaction with the lecture and the
lecturer.
UCLA alumna Talia Shulman said she was impressed by
Dershowitz’s lecture.
“In light of the fact that Israel received so much
criticism recently and that academia in general has such negative
attitudes toward Israel, I feel that he was a torch of
enlightenment,” she said.
Arby Aiwazian, a third-year political science student and an
undergraduate teacher’s assistant, said he came because he
admired Dershowitz as a lawyer.
“I came to see Alan Dershowitz because he is a great
attorney and a champion of civil rights, not because I have a
particular position on the issue being discussed,” he
said.
When the event ended and the audience left the building, some
clashed with the protesters standing outside.
One woman screamed at the protesters, accusing them of
“being there only because someone told you that Jews are
dirty.”
Dershowitz is not a stranger to controversy. As a defense
attorney, his clients have included O.J. Simpson and Mike Tyson. He
has authored more than 10 books on subjects ranging from the
situation in the Middle East to the U.S. legal system.