Israeli lecturer Prof. Shay Davidei, from Columbia University's School of Business Administration, has been temporarily banned from campus following harassment accusations. This comes amidst his vocal opposition to pro-Palestinian demonstrations at the university, which has drawn significant media attention.
Prof. Davidei asserts that he is being targeted due to his stance against anti-Israel protests, claiming that the university has failed to take action against demonstrators who use inflammatory rhetoric. "I prefer to be unemployed than to continue working at the university with Hamas supporters," he stated.
University's Position
Columbia University has responded that the decision to limit Prof. Davidei's campus access is due to allegations that he "repeatedly harassed and intimidated employees." The university clarified that these restrictions do not affect his lecturer role or salary. To regain full access to campus, he must complete a course on workplace behavior.
Support for Free Speech
A university spokesman emphasized that Prof. Davidei's freedom of expression remains intact, asserting that the institution has always respected his right to voice his opinions. Since the events of October 7, he has actively participated in numerous demonstrations against the anti-Israel protests, sometimes confronting demonstrators directly.
