Alan Dershowitz: I'll Leave Democratic Party If Keith Ellison Becomes DNC Chair

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While Alan Dershowitz is a staunch liberal, he’s threatening to leave the Democratic Party should Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) become the next chairman for the national committee. Dershowitz, a renowned attorney and Israel supporter, said he would resign due to Ellison’s positions on the Israeli-Palestinian issue and his association with Louis Farrakhan (via Washington Examiner):

Speaking on Fox Business, Dershowitz said there is a divide in the Democratic Party over Jewish issues, particularly the support of Israel, or lack thereof, offered by the Obama administration.

Dershowitz said Ellison's past praise of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan is enough to make him and other Jews leave the party.

"It does, and if they now appoint Keith Ellison, who worked with Farrakhan, to be chairman of the DNC you're going to see a lot of people leave" Dershowitz said. "I'm going to tell you right here on this show and this is news, if they appoint Keith Ellison to be chairman of the Democratic Party, I will resign my membership to the Democratic Party after 50 years of being a loyal Democrat."

Ellison had defended Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who has been accused of anti-Semitism. Ellison defended him against these charges. Even the Obama White House was reportedly worried about the concept of Ellison taking the reins at the DNC—and Ellison’s staff seem to know how sensitive the congressman’s association with the NOI leader has become; he bolted from a New York Times interview when the publication told him that they would ask him about his ties to Farrakhan. His speech in 2010 about Israel, where he questioned why U.S. policy is guided by a country of seven million people (i.e. Israel).

“A region of 350 million all turns on a country of 7 million. Does that make sense? Is that logic? Right?” Ellison reportedly said at the time. The Anti-Defamation League called such remarks disqualifying.

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