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Columbia temporarily suspends pro-Israel professor for harassing and intimidating students and staff

Columbia University (New York) has temporarily suspended Shai Davidai, an assistant professor in the College of Business, on charges of harassing and intimidating students and staff on campus. Davidi, avowedly pro-Israel, has been one of the most prominent voices against perceived anti-Semitic discourse among university students – both students and faculty – who have been demonstrating for a year against the war in Gaza and in favor of the Palestinians. Have been.

The measure by the rector’s office, which is still in turmoil following the resignation of Dean Shafik Minouche in August due to the polarization of the university community, reveals the underlying tide on the campus, which has reportedly been controlled but is still subject to extraordinary measures. This is evident in measures such as closing access at the beginning of the school year to avoid a repeat of the two pro-Palestinian camps this spring, which ended with police intervention.

In recent days, Davidi, whom The New York Times – not at all suspected of having pro-Palestinian sympathies – describes as “a polarizing presence on campus” since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, has X account, with more than 100,000 followers, to accuse student groups of supporting terrorism against Israel; Published the name and email address of a professor who, according to them, “agreed to rape, murder, torture and kidnapping,” and called Holder Rashid Khalidi, a respected Palestinian professor at Columbia, a “Hamas spokesperson.” The Distinguished Edward Said Professorship, which is retiring.

Davidi has been accusing Colombia, and particularly its Rectorate, of not doing enough to suppress pro-Palestinian protests, which he says are largely anti-Semitic and support terrorism. He confirmed his allegations by recording videos of the student activists, which he later published on the internet.