Columbia bars pro-'Israel' professor over harassment, intimidation
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A professor at Columbia University was temporarily banned for harassing and intimidating staff members over pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
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A student protester parades a Palestinian flag outside the entrance to Hamilton Hall on the campus of Columbia University, on April 30, 2024, in New York. (AP)
Columbia University has temporarily prohibited a prominent pro-"Israel" professor from campus, citing accusations that he repeatedly harassed and intimidated staff members.
Shai Davidai, an assistant professor at the business school, has become a divisive figure on campus since October 7, 2023, which marks the onset of the Israeli war on Gaza.
He criticized Columbia for failing to sufficiently address pro-Palestinian protests, which he claims are largely "anti-semitic" and "supportive of terrorism." Additionally, he records videos of student activists and administrators, sharing them online—actions that his critics argue cross the line between civility and policy.
On his X account, Davidai accused several student groups of supporting "terrorism", shared the name and email address of a Columbia professor whom he implied was “OK with rape, murder, torture, and kidnapping,” and falsely labeled Rashid Khalidi, a respected Palestinian scholar at Columbia who is retiring, as a “spokesperson for Hamas.”
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Last week, on the anniversary of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, Davidai posted videos of himself following Cas Holloway, the university’s chief operating officer, for several minutes while filming him and repeatedly questioning him about the presence of pro-Palestinian protests on campus that day.
“How did you allow this to happen on Oct. 7?” Davidai asked in the video, amid a bustling backdrop of pro-Palestinian chants and activism. He added, “You have to do your job. And I will not let you rest if they won’t let us rest.”
The school said it notified Professor Davidai of its decision on Tuesday.
Columbia pro-Palestinian movement
Columbia University has witnessed mass pro-Palestinian protests since the start of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
Students at Columbia University kick-started their fall semester with a pro-Palestine protest against the University’s continued support for "Israel’s" genocidal war on Gaza and the repression of pro-Palestine student voices.
About 50 people protested outside Columbia’s main gates Tuesday holding Palestinian flags and shouting “Free Palestine!” Most protesters were wearing masks over their mouths and a black-and-white scarf on their heads known as a Koufiyyeh, a symbol of Palestinian solidarity.
The group further noted that the bombs falling on the people of Gaza are not only manufactured in the US but also facilitated by "Columbia University's investments in the imperial war machine."
Weeks ago, universities across the United States witnessed a historic surge in student protests in support of Palestine and Gaza, calling for ending all agreements with "Israel" and divesting from the occupation entity. Students also demanded an end to the US support to "Israel" and its involvement in the genocidal war.
