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Dershowitz notes role keeping Carter from DNC podium

November 13, 2008

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Alan Dershowitz says he helped convince Barack Obama to keep Jimmy Carter from speaking at the Democratic National Convention.

"I pushed him very hard to make that decision," Dershowitz said in an interview with Shalom TV. "Barack Obama had to make a choice between his Jewish supporters and his anti-Israel supporters like Jimmy Carter, and he did not choose Jimmy Carter.  And that was an embarrassment for Jimmy Carter and a show of disrespect."

"It was a good decision, a wise decision, a moral decision," the Harvard Law professor added.

Carter did appear in the convention hall, but he did not make any remarks from the podium. A video of the former president helping with Katrina relief was shown at the Denver gathering.

In the interview, Dershowitz also said he believes that Obama’s support in the pro-Palestinian community could make it easier to advance the peace process.

"The fact that there are some in the pro-Palestinian community who like him may be a positive thing—that he can reach out to both communities and be an honest broker who, without compromising Israel’s security, can facilitate a kind of peace that will be both in the best interests of Israel and the best interests of the Palestinian people," Dershowitz said. "I have a high level of confidence, not perfect confidence but a high level of confidence, that he will do the right thing."

Dershowitz also said he was not interested in working in an Obama administration because "I want to keep my own independent views independent."

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