Columbia University suspends pro-Israel professor over alleged harassment of employees
Columbia University suspended the campus access of pro-Israel professor Shai Davidai on Wednesday, claimingin a statement to The National News Desk (TNND) he "harassed and intimidated" other school employees.
Davidai has been an outspoken advocate of Israel, a controversial stance given repeated anti-Israel demonstrations by students at the school. Campus leaders say, however, the decision is unrelated to his activism.
"Columbia has consistently and continually respected Assistant Professor Davidai's right to free speech and to express his views," a spokesperson told TNND. "His freedom of speech has not been limited and is not being limited now."
The spokesperson added Davidai has acted in a threatening way toward other employees, causing the school to suspend him. He will undergo behavioral training during his suspension.
"Columbia, however, does not tolerate threats of intimidation, harassment, or other threatening behavior by its employees," the statement reads. "Because Assistant Professor Davidai repeatedly harassed and intimidated University employees in violation of University policy, we have temporarily limited his access to campus while he undertakes appropriate training on our policies governing the behavior of our employees."
Davidai is not teaching any classes this semester. The suspension only impacts his campus access and doesn't impact his position or compensation.
The professor on October 7 of this year posted a series of videos to X showing himself at a campus pro-Palestine protest. In that thread, he shared a video of himself confronting Columbia Chief Operating Officer Cas Holloway for allegedly allowing the demonstrations to take place.
"Don't say sorry if you let this happen," Davidai said of an ongoing protest nearby. "This is your responsibility."
"Do you think this will go away if just Shai Davadai goes away?" he pressed. "Is that what you're thinking?"
Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), a pro-Palestine group which apologized after one of its members said "Zionists don't deserve to live," rescinded that olive branch last week in an apparent call for violence.
"In the face of violence from the oppressor equipped with the most lethal military force on the planet, where you've exhausted all peaceful means of resolution, violence is the only path forward," CUAD wrote. "Long live Palestine, long live the Intifada and long live the Resistance."
Columbia University Interim President Katrina Armstrong responded by condemning calls for violence in a statement sent to the campus community.
"Statements advocating for violence or harm are antithetical to the core principles upon which this institution was founded," she wrote.
