Thursday, March 28th | 18 Adar II 5784

Subscribe
October 7, 2013 2:00 pm
3

Dershowitz Recounts Meeting Netanyahu: He Asked Me if O.J. Did It

× [contact-form-7 404 "Not Found"]

avatar by Zach Pontz

Alan Dershowitz. Photo: www.theconservativetreehouse.com.

World famous attorney and regular Algemeiner contributor, Alan Dershowitz has made a name covering celebrities in the court of law. Now something of a celebrity himself, “Dersh” is releasing a new memoir, Taking the Stand: My Life in the Law, recounting his trials and tribulations, plus the many high-profile encounters he’s had over the years.

Well known for his staunch defense of Israel in the court of public opinion, Dershowitz has had entree into the halls of power in that country for some time. Of meeting current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Dershowitz, who was one of the lawyers who represented O.J. Simpson during his homicide trial, tells how he was caught off guard by the PM’s most pressing question (as retold by The New York Post):

“There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you,” the prime minister of Israel asked him one day. “Did O.J. do it?”

Dershowitz was taken aback. “So, Mr. Prime Minister, does Israel have nuclear weapons?”

“You know I can’t answer that,” Bibi said. Dershowitz looked back at him and said, “Aha!” and they both laughed.

Dershowitz also tells of his lunch with Woody Allen in the late 1970s (as retold by The New York Post):

While Allen was filming “Manhattan,” a mutual friend set up a lunch — a birthday present for Dershowitz. When Dershowitz admitted this to the director, Allen began to speculate who his gift would be.

“Louis Armstrong.”

“He’s dead,” Dershowitz reminded him.

“Exactly. Jimmy Hoffa would be my second choice.”

“He’s missing.”

“Exactly,” he repeated.

Allen then asked Dershowitz what dead person he would have wanted to represent. “Jesus,” the lawyer replied.

“Do you think you could have won?”

“In front of a Jewish jury, maybe.”

Other famous encounters included Marlon Brando (“a rather pathetic figure”) and Leona Helmsley (“Boring and rather stupid.”)

Dershowitz’s memoir, Taking the Stand: My Life in the Law is set to hit bookstores on October 15th.

Share this Story: Share On Facebook Share On Twitter

Let your voice be heard!

Join the Algemeiner

Algemeiner.com

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.