Alan Dershowitz, an attorney, writer and Harvard University
law professor, sat down with the Daily Bruin on Wednesday to
discuss the Middle East. Ңbull;Ӣbull;Ӣbull; Daily Bruin:
What do you think about “anti-Israel” campus groups
you have encountered, and how would you respond to them?
Alan Dershowitz: Facts. Learning facts. I think a lot of the
anti-Israel attitude is based on a lack of facts. Not only a lack
of facts about Israel, but a lack of facts about other countries in
the Middle East. I think a lot of it is based on the lack of a
comparative context, and I think a lot of it is based on expecting
perfection from Israel. When you look at it factually and in a
comparative context, Israel emerges a lot like a Western democracy
like the United States, Great Britain, Canada ““ with some of
the same mistakes, some of the same foibles, and some of the same
virtues ““ but the virtues far outweigh the vices. All
I’m asking for is a balanced look at Israel. To apply a
double standard is ultimately racist, and not necessarily against
Israel ““ I think a lot of people apply a double standard
because they “don’t expect as much of the Arabs”
and that’s a racist attitude toward the Arabs in the end. I
think a single standard is the only one consistent with a
non-racist approach.
DB: What do you think is the role of religion compared to
the role of politics, especially in relation to the
settlements?
AD: (My book) may be one of the few books ever written about
Israel that doesn’t mention God, the Bible or anything
religious. I make a totally secular political case. I would rather
see the settlements end sooner rather than later and obviate the
need for the walls around them. My own view is Israel ought to
announce now that it is prepared to end certain settlements on
dates conditioned on the Palestinians making best efforts to
eliminate terrorism. If there is no terrorism between now and those
dates, the settlements are dismantled. If there is terrorism, then
some group has to decide whether or not best efforts were made to
reduce it. If they were, then the settlements get dismantled. But
if not, if the Palestinian Authority is encouraging terrorism, then
they can’t get any reward for that.
DB: Do you think there could ever be a U.S. role for sending
peacekeepers to the area?
AD: One thing is clear ““ there can never be U.N.
peacekeepers. The U.N. is … not an honest broker. I
wouldn’t necessarily oppose some symbolic American presence
““ checkpoints and that kind of thing. But I don’t think
the United States should play any kind of a role that would lead to
military involvement. I think the events of last week, when the
Americans were killed, show the great risks involved with trying to
bring in American soldiers.
DB: Do you think civil disobedience could help the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
AD: I think the day for civil disobedience is probably gone. I
think what we need are diplomatic leaders ““ people who are
prepared to accept compromises and create a state on the ground and
then move from there. So, actually, I’m encouraged by this
movement of fringe people to try to create a new peace plan;
whether I agree with every word of it is not important. I think the
point is: There are people working towards peace. I just hope that
those people will eventually get the support of their
governments.
DB: What do you think about the possibility of Iran gaining
nuclear weapons?
AD: I’m very concerned. That’s a really big issue,
particularly if Iran remains in the hands of ayatollahs and
religious fundamentalists. The hardest thing to rationally prevent
are weapons of mass destruction in the hands of people who
don’t care about dying. If you imagine suicide bombings with
nuclear weapons…
DB: What should be the role of other Arab nations in this
conflict?
AD: I think Egypt and Jordan and Saudi Arabia all have an
interest in stability. They don’t want radical fundamentalism
to rear its dangerous head. I think self interest determines
everything. And self interest may push them toward making peace.
Certainly it’s what pushed them to make peace with Israel
themselves.
Interview conducted by Derek Lazzaro, Bruin Senior
Staff.