Alan Dershowitz Sent 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' Episode To Israeli Prime Minister

Larry David isn't generally known as a peace maker, but an episode of his show, "Curb Your Enthusiasm," could just help solve one of the most intractable issues in global politics.

"I recently sent a copy of 'Palestinian Chicken,' that Larry David gave me, to [Israeli] Prime Minister Netanyahu -- with the suggestion that he invite [Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud] Abbas over to watch it together," famed law professor and Israel policy expert Alan Dershowitz recently told the Columbia Current. "And maybe if they both get a good laugh, they can begin a negotiating process."

In the episode, which aired last season, David and his friends begin to eat at a Palestinian chicken restaurant called Al-Abbas, despite a seeming conflict between their Judaism and the owners' allegiance to their home country, which is made clear by posters on the restaurant's walls. They soon find themselves divided with the rest of the local Jewish community, which is up in arms over the restaurant's plans to expand to a new location, next to a Jewish deli. David is unmoved -- especially once he starts sleeping with one of the restaurant's proprietors.

The episode in many ways took aim at the "Ground Zero Mosque" controversy in New York City, as well as poked fun at strife between the two groups in general.

"I know that Netanyahu has received the DVD, and he was looking forward to watching it," Dershowitz continued. "So it may be that Larry David will not only win Emmys, but he may even qualify for the Nobel Peace Prize, if his episode could bring together Netanyahu and Abbas, and bring Abbas to the negotiating table."

As Larry says in the show, if they sent the chicken to Israel, the Israelis would "take down all the settlements immediately," and find a peaceful solution to the conflict in the region.

For more, click over to the Columbia Current.

Comments

[queequag]

09:01 PM on 01/14/2012

it's worth a try --oslo, un, camp david, et. al., couldn't do it

[houseslave]

05:21 PM on 12/18/2011

What a pile of baloney! Who is hating whom I wonder? Will the skillful Palestinian cooks love Isarel once the settlements are removed? Not a chance! The next request will be for Jews to get out of Jerusalem, and then leave the Holy Land altogether. What a smart peace solution we have here! However, I have a proposal of my own, how about we send some bagels and lox to the Palestinians? Once they are hooked on the Jewish food, maybe they'll open up to a possibility of living in peace with their Jewish neighbours? Not much hope to this one, but why don't we give peace a chance?

[piercingeyes7]

03:44 PM on 12/03/2011

I never watch Curb your Enthusiasm , because he plays on every Antisemitic generalization in the Hate Jews Now handbook. . That being said I see the same Pro Palestinian propagandized commentators, using this as just another in their long list of opportunities, some that have nothing to do with Israel or Jews, to expound there endless tirade of lies. Here is the reality, Israelis hate this war. They are the ones who have lost, relatives, and live with life altering disabilities from terrorism. They have to send their children into these kill zones, and pray they are not kidnapped. Zionism / Israeli/ Jew is all the same thing, one wish for peace, and to live in a place where they can defend themselves, live in community, preserve their history, and contribute to the world. If you can find something in that to hate , then hate on :
Why going back to 1967 borders , what is being asked as perfectly reasonable of Israel, and is really the first step to the extermination of Israel, and therefore is Antisemitic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2hZ6SlSqq0&feature=share

[Trollstein]

07:11 PM on 12/02/2011

Dersh is a decent legal scholar but lawyers (even law professors) should stay out of comedy. The two concepts are nearly polar opposites.
How does Larry David know that his chicken did not get the special topping?

[Vlady]

10:02 PM on 12/01/2011

What about sending 72000000 virgin chickens to Gaza to make a final peace?

[With Your Consent]

03:18 PM on 12/01/2011

Larry David is an anti-Zionist_subversive and Dersh is too stewpid_to figure it out.

;-)

[kapalabhati]

01:14 PM on 12/01/2011

Well, if anyone can....

[PhineasGage730]

10:26 PM on 11/30/2011

I have to say, laughing isn't going to help that situation. Have you ever spoken to a Jewish person about that conflict? They swear they are the victims even after Israeli troops blow up a school.

I was in the library the other day and this old guy from Iran was sitting in the study section (no talking at all) and this other old Jewish guy sits down and ask him where he's from. After he learns Iran the first thing he says is, "Boy, someone really needs to k!ll Ahmadinejad already. He doesn't recognize Israel."

And the most amazing (disgusting) thing was he wasn't being hostile, he said it as if everyone agrees with him. He can't fathom, even an Iranian man not agreeing. And when you don't agree with them you're immediately an anti-Semite.

Anyway, the Iranian just nods and tries to get back to his paper. And the guy keeps talking. So I leaned over, showed him the sign that reads: Study Section: NO TALKING. And he got up and stormed away.

[Skye]

11:01 PM on 11/30/2011

Yes...because all Jews think alike. So when you meet one Jew in a library you can be sure other Jews feel and think the exact same way. Is that what you're saying?

[PhineasGage730]

11:46 PM on 11/30/2011

Not at all. I know and went to school with plenty of Jewish kids, and often hung out at the Hillel House...well, maybe not "often" but a good number. And I treat everyone as an individual, but man, when it comes to the topic of Israel... It just never fails. I debate a lot. I studied sociology and I'm into politics...both domestic and foreign and I just can't think of anything that is equal to how people see that conflict. America, can't say anything in favor of Palestine. The president said something about starting from the 1967 Boarders and he got so much crap. And it's not even, if you're against us, you're anti-Semitic, it is more like if you don't agree with us you are. It's insane.

And again, I think this is on a cultural/societal level. On an individual level, I take everyone as they are and would give them the benefit of the doubt when we discuss things...but I have found very few that are willing to not be very offended if you sympathize with Palestine on any level. You bring up something a recent Palestinian neighborhood bombing and it's as if you said, I don't care about any innocent Israeli victims.

You know what it's like, It's like right after 9/11 in America. If you even brought up that maybe we should figure out why they did it, it was like you were a terror!st yourself.

[Reikoku Jaken]

12:38 PM on 12/01/2011

All Zionists think alike, and there are many who are not Jewish.

[Trollstein]

07:23 PM on 12/02/2011

Ignorant remarks.
Many Iranian Americans hate the Iranian revolutionary regime worse then Israel does.
Just like many black Africans in South Sudan hate Muslims more then the most radical Jewish (so called) "settlers".
The Israelis are not the primary victims of the Mid East conflict. They are the previous victims, doing what is required to avoid a return to being (future) victims.
Some types of criticism of the Jewish nation are legitimate. Many are veiled acts of anti-Semitic rhetoric. The problem is that the people making such remarks will never admit that there is a nexus between their position and anti-Jewish bias. They will almost always engage in the types of criticism which is NOT legitimate. Such as prolific lying about Israel. Or expecting Israel to act with more compassion and restraint then other nations would. At the end of the day, Jews are outnumbered by Muslims in the Mid East by about 80/1 and they are surrounded on all sides by tyrannical and hostile dictators. You can not rationalize that fact away.

[PhineasGage730]

11:42 PM on 12/02/2011

PART I
Your initial comment about Iranians and Black Africans is pointless. Of course some do...some Americans h@te America....okay. There's no meaning behind it. And if that's to justify a guy walking up to an Iranian as saying his President should be mur.de.red, you're just proving my point. But anyway...

"...doing what is required to avoid a return to being (future) victims." Jesus...now that's a statement. You sound like people in America that justify t0rture and every other d!sgusting thing we have done. Doing what is required huh? Well good for you...bad for women and children. But hey, as long as you're not (future) victims. You know, if everyone thought way...the whole world would be...well I guess it would be exactly the conflict in Israel. What a world that would be. But hey, as long as WE are not victims.

[PhineasGage730]

11:52 PM on 12/02/2011

PART II
Now, you say some criticisms are legitimate but many are veiled acts of anti-semitic rhetoric. This is my biggest problem. SO WHAT? If innocent people are dying what does it matter? What is your argument? Can't anyone that commits heinous acts say the same thing. Can't Al Qeada say, sure you may have a legitimate point about our actions, but some of it are veiled anti-muslem rhetoric. WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH BOMBS GOING INTO NEIGHBORHOODS??? Sure there are bigots everywhere. People that will h@te you because you're Jewish, or Black, or Muslim. But there is still a right and a wrong.

You say I can not rationalize the fact that you are out numbered. Or that you shouldn't be expected to act with more compassion and restraint then other nations would. Fine. But I never did. I don't expect Israel to act any more humane than the rest. My d!sgust...or maybe it's just disappointment is how we can't judge Israel (as we can judge EVERYONE including my own nation - America) without being told we are anti-Semitic. And for the record, nothing justifies what Israel is going. Just like nothing justifies what Palestine or anywhere else including the US.

One more thing: Isn't it funny that US politicians can openly criticize the actions of our own military but not Israel. Doesn't that seem strange. Whatever.

[TheBestPatriot]

09:49 PM on 11/30/2011

I love Larry David, but I despise Dershowitz.

[Skye]

11:02 PM on 11/30/2011

Ditto to that.

[ethiopia1a]

12:33 PM on 12/01/2011

Me too.

[gorgol]

09:47 PM on 11/30/2011

What I see in this clip is Larry's ability to make what we think is serious....into humor. Maybe if we all saw humor in our divisions, silly prejudices that keep us all apart....perhaps those that want to keep up this "hatred" on both sides, would have to crawl back under the rock from which they came.

[Wookiee1972]

08:16 PM on 11/30/2011

"Nobel Peace Prize Winner Larry David." Sounds pretty, pretty good.

[Seawolf56]

07:20 PM on 11/30/2011

As Larry says in the show, if they sent the chicken to Israel, the Israelis would "take down all the settlements immediately," and find a peaceful solution to the conflict in the region.

Brilliant Larry!! Just think how much chicken 3 Billion can buy

[commiepinko]

07:13 PM on 11/30/2011

He would give them all heart attacks......

[TitaniumAvatar]

06:30 PM on 11/30/2011

Zankou Chicken Solves Middle East Conflict.

That might be a stretch, but it is the best chicken I've ever had.

[BcemXAHA]

04:48 PM on 11/30/2011

Possibly the absolute best episode of all of them. Imagine if it works?

Bibi, make some falafel, ask Abbas to bring a bit of Babaganoush, get some Bisli, some Bamba and sit down together over a few glasses of Manischewitz and settle this non sense once and for all, listen to Larry, the man knows what he's saying...Besides, some of these palestinians habibtas are hotties ;).