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Dershowitz details chat about Israel with president at his estate - The Bo... https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2017/04/06/dershowitz-detai... Dershowitz wouldnt repeat what Trump told him privately but felt comfortable recounting the parts of the their conversation that occurred in front of other dinner guests. Trump “clearly had subjects he wanted to talk about. It was his agenda,” Dershowitz said. “He told me he thought in the Middle East, they are ready for a deal.” Trump explained that he’d spoken to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and sensed that he was ready for a peace deal, Dershowitz said. 9 99 “T responded by saying, ‘the Palestinians say that to every new president, Dershowitz said, offering Trump a dose of skepticism. “He said ‘Now I think they’re really ready,’ ” Dershowitz added. “I said, “You have to test them. ... You have to test them, it’s not enough to just hear ‘they’re ready.’ “He shook his head in apparent agreement,” Dershowitz said. Dershowitz said Trump made it clear he was aware that the former professor is “very friendly” with Netanyahu. And the Israeli media is reporting that Dershowitz was tapped to be a back channel sorts between Netanyahu and Trump. This chatter prompted some to wonder whether Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who’d been tasked to be the point person on a possible peace deal, was on the outs. But Dershowitz said that’s not the case. “The president said, ‘I know you know 99 99 Jared from Harvard. Be in touch with him. And Dershowitz added that he doesn’t have a role, formal or informal, in working on behalf of the administration to jump start peace talks. “This was as a one off,” he said. You're reading 2 of 5 free articles. Get UNLIMITED access for only 99¢ per week. Subscribe now 3 of 8 4/7/2017 11:48 AM HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_014867