“Netanyahu wisely enhanced ties with Russia; the vacuum created by Obama’s administration caused it,” Professor Alan M. Dershowitz told the Globes Israel Business Conference Monday, at a session titled entitled “Economy, Society, Security – The Great Powers and their Impact on the Middle East.”

Dershowitz, a prominent legal scholar and Middle East expert, also discussed the possibility of renewing the peace process during the administration of president-elect Trump: “Obama pushed away Israel, the Palestinians, Jordanians, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. The only country he got closer to is Iran. It is obvious that during his administration negotiations with the Palestinians cannot go forward, but I believe that during Trump’s administration it certainly could.”

At a Sunday night Q&A session, Dershowitz presented his analysis of geopolitical currents, and their influence on Jews everywhere. “The Jewish people thrive at the political center,” he said, “but now we see the extremists getting stronger on both sides, all around the world. The events of the past year are challenging for the Jewish people: Who would have predicted the Brexit a year ago? The radicalization of the left in Britain and the radicalization of the right in Italy, France, Hungary, Greece… and Trump winning the presidency. The world has become less predictable.”

“The last thing Israel needs is an unpredictable, extremist world,” Dershowitz cautioned, adding, “I always support the residing president. I have a hope that in 2020 I will enthusiastically vote for Donald Trump. I hope he will do a great job as president.”

“I don’t believe it will happen, I don’t predict it will happen,” he noted, “but I will do everything in my powers to make him a great president. I am a patriotic American, and as an American I will always support the president. As soon as he was elected, I told my friends on the right that I am there for them and will do my best to help him support the Israeli people and to bring peace.”