Dershowitz fund-raises for Schakowsky opponent

Alan Dershowitz is raising funds for a Republican challenger to an Illinois congresswoman in a race featuring two Jewish candidates.

Dershowitz, a Democrat who backed President Obama in the last election, is appearing at a lunch Wednesday for Joel Pollak, who is seeking to unseat Rep. Jan Schakowsky from her suburban Chicago seat.

Dershowitz could not be reached by JTA for comment, but Pollak has targeted Schakowsky for accepting the backing of J Street, the dovish pro-Israel lobby. Dershowitz has clashed with J Street, saying it should bring its concerns about the policies of the current Israeli government into the tent of the traditional pro-Israel movement instead of working independently. He maintains that Jewish criticism of Israel weakens the Jewish state.

J Street’s political action committee launched a fund-raising drive for Schakowsky on Tuesday upon learning of the luncheon fund-raiser. Within two hours of sending an e-mail to followers asking, “Have you been itching to send a message to Alan Dershowitz?” the PAC had raised more than $18,000, just short of its $20,000 goal.