NEW YORK — A pro-Israel professor at Columbia University has been temporarily suspended from campus, according to a statement from the university on Wednesday.
Shai Davidai, who serves as an assistant professor at the business school, is facing restrictions regarding his access to the campus effective from Tuesday. This action follows allegations of repeated harassment and intimidation towards other university personnel, as indicated by university spokesperson Ben Chang.
Davidai, an Israeli national, has been a vocal critic of pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus, arguing that university authorities have inadequately addressed these protests which he perceives as antisemitic. He played a significant role in organizing pro-Israel counterdemonstrations at Columbia last spring. On his social media platform, X, previously known as Twitter, where he enjoys a following of over 100,000 users, he has accused pro-Palestinian student factions of endorsing terrorism.
According to Chang, the decision to restrict Davidai’s campus access was a direct response to his behavior on October 7, which marked one year since Hamas attacked Israel—an incident that has fueled ongoing tensions in the region. Chang clarified that the university has consistently upheld Davidai’s right to express his opinions, but behavior that includes threats and harassment is not tolerated. “His freedom of speech has not been limited and is not being limited now,” Chang emphasized.
Davidai has not yet responded to requests for comments but expressed on X that the access ban was a retaliation for videos he posted online, where he challenged university officials during pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia. He characterized his suspension as an act of retaliation from the university’s chief operating officer, Cas Holloway, linking to a now-removed video on Instagram.
Furthermore, Davidai has asserted that he prioritizes Columbia’s future over his own, stating on the platform that he is concerned about the implications of accepting anti-Jewish, anti-Israeli, and anti-American sentiments among students on campus.
Chang clarified that while Davidai is not teaching this semester, he has not been expelled from his position as a faculty member, nor has there been an alteration to his salary as a result of the disciplinary action. However, he will be required to undergo a training program on the institution’s policies concerning employee conduct before he can regain access to the campus.
“Education, training, access restrictions, and various measures are implemented by the university when faculty and staff violate university policy,” Chang remarked. He noted that it is expected that Davidai will successfully complete the required training and return to campus promptly.