Alan Dershowitz
Harvard Law professor emeritus; pro-Israel author and advocate
A self-described liberal Zionist who defends Israel “on liberal values” and as a secular democracy while criticizing specific policies — a stance he calls “critical, not uncritical.”
What happened
In a public debate over whether the American Jewish establishment was alienating young liberals, Dershowitz insisted he makes “the liberal case” for Israel — two states, minority rights, opposition to the occupation — yet is still branded a right-winger by the left.
I defend Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish secular democracy and I critically, not uncritically, defend Israel’s right to take military action necessary to protect its civilians. (NPR, 2010)
Under each definition
He repeatedly self-describes as a liberal/critical Zionist.
He supports Israel as a Jewish democratic state alongside a Palestinian one.
He supports the Jewish-state project (while opposing the occupation).
Explicitly secular; favors more separation of synagogue and state.
The case that they're a Zionist
He repeatedly self-describes as a (liberal/critical) Zionist and supports Israel as a Jewish democratic state alongside a Palestinian one.
The case against / their own view
The religious lens fails — he is explicitly secular and favors more separation of “synagogue and state.”
In their words
Dershowitz is a strong supporter of Israel. He self-identifies as both “pro-Israel and pro-Palestine.”
The verdicts above are how each definition would most likely classify this person — illustrative guidance, not official rulings. The lenses diverge most on the difference between a self-label and a substantive commitment, and between “Zionism” meaning a Jewish homeland versus a Jewish state. See the Definition tab for each definition’s full text. Inclusion is documentation, not a finding.