Professor Alan Dershowitz announced that he is switching parties after nearly seven decades as a Democrat, saying he plans to register as a Republican.

The longtime Harvard Law School professor emeritus explained his decision in an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal, pointing to the Democratic Party’s position on Israel as the decisive factor. While noting that he still disagrees with Republicans on issues such as abortion, immigration, healthcare, taxation, and church-state separation, he said he is nonetheless making a full shift.

“By registering as a Republican rather than an independent, maybe I can have some influence on moving some Republican policies toward the center. I have given up on trying to change the Democratic Party,” he lamented.

Reaction from left-leaning figures was immediate and largely celebratory, with little indication of disappointment over his departure.

“I can’t think of anything better for the Democratic Party than Alan Dershowitz not being a part of it,” former Obama national security adviser Ben Rhodes wrote on X.

Others were even more blunt in their criticism. “Good riddance to bigoted Epstein Air frequent flier and atrocity denier Alan Dershowitz,” wrote Dylan Williams, vice president for government affairs at the Center for International Policy.

Some voices on the right also expressed skepticism about Dershowitz’s move. Conservative activist Christopher Rufo characterized him as part of what he called “the Right is a dumping ground for failed celebrities and MeToo cases.”

{Matzav.com}