Tensions flared at Columbia University on Monday as a pro-Israel counter-protest was met with resistance. Professor Shai Davidai, the organizer of the counter-protest, was denied access to campus due to his deactivated ID card. In an attempt to maintain order, the university had designated a separate area for the counter-protest, but Davidai was not permitted to enter the area where the pro-Palestinian encampment was located. Davidai, a vocal critic of pro-Palestine protesters, is currently under investigation by the university for alleged harassment of students. Concerns about the safety of Jewish students have been raised, particularly after antisemitic attacks occurred during previous pro-Palestine protests. Columbia Law Students for Palestine has condemned these attacks. The university has shifted to remote classes to reduce tensions, and Republican U.S. representatives from New York have called for the resignation of President Minouche Shafik over her handling of the protests. New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has also expressed concern for Columbia’s Jewish community, emphasizing the importance of their safety and the need to end antisemitism.
Tensions Flare at Columbia Over Pro-Israel and Palestine Protests
