Case for Israel author defends Obama on settlements
Professor Alan Dershowitz has long been a vigorous center to center-right defender of Israel in the media in the United States. As author of “The Case for Israel” – a best selling book defending Israel – Dershowitz has made hundreds of media appearances to talk about the politics surrounding Israel.
While pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans may not agree with everything he says or does, it is important to note his rigorous defense of President Obama’s approach to Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank.
Here are a few key excerpts from his recently published Wall Street Journal Editorial:
“A majority of American-Jewish supporters of Israel, as well as Israelis, do not favor settlement expansion. Thus the Obama position on settlement expansion, whether one agrees with it or not, is not at all inconsistent with support for Israel. It may be a different position from that of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but it is not a difference that should matter to most Jewish voters who support both Mr. Obama and Israel…”
“The differences that would matter are those — if they exist — that directly impact Israel’s security. And in terms of Israel’s security, nothing presents a greater threat than Iran. The Obama administration consistently says that Iran should not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons…”
“Getting tough on settlement expansion should not be confused with undercutting Israel’s security.”
As American friends of Israel consider the President’s approach to settlements and to Iran, we must remember who is in his corner.
Read the full article here:
“Has Obama Turned on Israel?” by Alan Dershowitz. The Wall Street Journal, July 3, 2009.