Prominent civil liberties attorney Alan Dershowitz announced he has formally switched his party affiliation to Republican after decades as a Democrat, citing disagreements with the party’s stance on Israel as the driving factor.

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Dershowitz said he had been a registered Democrat for 67 years and had supported the party since his youth, including campaigning for candidates and backing figures such as John F. Kennedy. Despite that long history, he said he could no longer align with the party’s direction.

Dershowitz wrote that he believes Democrats have become increasingly hostile toward Israel, describing the shift as a decisive factor in his decision. He said he plans to actively support Republican candidates moving forward, including through campaign contributions and public advocacy.

While outlining his decision, Dershowitz acknowledged he still disagrees with Republicans on several domestic policy issues, including abortion, taxation, immigration, and health care. However, he indicated that his views on Israel outweigh those differences in determining his political support.

Dershowitz previously left the Democratic Party in 2024 to become an independent, but his latest move represents a further step toward aligning with Republicans. He also said he intends to encourage other pro-Israel voters to reconsider their political affiliations.

A longtime figure in legal and academic circles, Dershowitz served as a professor at Harvard Law School and has been involved in several high-profile legal cases. He was part of the defense team for Donald Trump during his first impeachment and previously represented clients including Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein.

His party switch underscores broader political divisions over foreign policy issues, particularly regarding Israel, as debates continue within both major parties over the direction of U.S. policy in the region.