When Desmond Tutu stood up for the rights of Palestinians, he could not be ignored | Chris McGreal

After visits to Israel and Palestine, Tutu used his moral authority to speak out and, despite abuse, refused to back down. He wanted liberation for everyone

• Chris McGreal is the former Guardian correspondent in Jerusalem and Johannesburg

Even amid the torrent of praise for the revered former archbishop Desmond Tutu in the days since his death, the anti-apartheid champion is not being universally mourned. Alan Dershowitz, the renowned US constitutional lawyer and ardent defender of Israel, took a moment to brand Tutu as evil" and the most influential antisemite of our time".

The world is mourning Bishop Tutu, who just died the other day. Can I remind the world that although he did some good things, a lot of good things on apartheid, the man was a rampant antisemite and bigot?" he told Fox News.

Chris McGreal is the former Guardian correspondent in Jerusalem and Johannesburg