Dershowitz supports Beck rally

Ahead of major Jerusalem event on Wednesday, US law professor says he believes controversial commentator's motives are genuine

Ynetnews|Published: 08.23.11 , 23:06

"At a time when old friends and allies who should be supporting the Jewish state are abandoning it in droves, (Glen) Beck's willingness to stand up for Israel must be accepted with gratitude," Harvard law Professor Alan Dershowitz stated in a piece published in Hudson New York.

According to Dershowitz, "I, for one, do not question his motives. I believe they are genuine. One need not accept all of Beck's positions on Israel – and I certainly do not – in order to agree with him that support of Israel is one of the great moral issues of the 21st Century."

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Beck arrived in Israel over the weekend ahead of a mass rally he plans to hold in Jerusalem on Wednesday, under the banner "Restoring Courage". Beck has been leading a publicity campaign for the event over the past few weeks, urging his viewers and listeners to fly out to the Holy Land.

According to Beck's website, the event will take place just steps away from the Western Wall and the Temple Mount, and will call for unity among all faiths, honoring Israelis who have displayed courage in their struggle for survival and peace.

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The rally will be attended by religious leaders, esteemed speakers and entertainers including Western Wall Rabbi Shumuel Rabinovitch, Academy Award winning actor Jon Voight and internationally renowned singer Dudu Fisher.

Dershowitz added, "I certainly admire Beck's decision to go to Israel far more than the decision of so many so-called artists and intellectuals who call for a boycott against the Jewish state without even bothering to go there and see for themselves."

"I welcome the support of religious Christians who love Israel for religious reasons. I abhor the ignorant and misguided efforts of other Christians, such as Jimmy Carter and Desmond Tutu, who misuse their faith against the Jewish state," Dershowitz noted.

US Senator Joe Lieberman and Representative Eric Cantor have announced that they will not take part in the rally.

The Washington Jewish Week newspaper reported that the two Jewish politicians decided to refrain from participating due to personal reasons. Cantor, the House majority leader, is currently visiting Israel, but is expected to leave on Wednesday. A spokesman for Lieberman said that he will not be able to attend due to a "family commitment."

Last week, Beck came out against Israel's housing protest expressing his support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"The 200,000 people on the streets of Tel Aviv are demanding change in Tel Aviv and standing against Benjamin Netanyahu, who are these people?," Beck wondered on his radio show last week. "They're obviously from the hard left," his fellow broadcaster Steve Burguiere said.