In a stunning political shift, renowned lawyer, legal scholar, and longtime Democrat Alan Dershowitz has officially left the Democratic Party after 67 years, announcing that he is now a Republican.

Dershowitz, one of the most prominent Jewish legal voices in America, made the announcement in a newly published opinion piece in the WSJ, explaining that his decision was driven primarily by what he sees as a shift in the Democratic Party’s position on Israel.

Having been a registered Democrat since 1959, Dershowitz described the move as personal, but unavoidable. He argued that the party’s growing hostility toward Israel reflects a scary ideological shift that he believes is dangerous, not only for Israel, but for the United States and the Western world.

In recent years, Dershowitz had already slowly distanced himself from the Democratic Party, first leaving to become more of an independent before fully aligning with Republicans. He criticized Democratic leadership and activists, accusing them of embracing increasingly anti Israel positions and moving away from what he considers core American and democratic values.

Despite having disagreements with Republicans on many issues, Dershowitz made it clear that his support for Israel ultimately outweighed those concerns, becoming the decisive factor in his switch.