An Israeli-American professor at Columbia University’s business school slammed his employer in a fiery speech on campus Wednesday night — ripping the university for not publicly denouncing pro-Palestinian student organizations he claimed are “pro-terror.”
Assistant Professor Shai Davidai alleged that Columbia’s president, Minouche Shafik, has not spoken out against the student groups and said he would never allow his daughter to attend the Ivy League school in remarks he posted to YouTube titled “an open letter to every parent in America.”
Davidai shook with rage as he spoke at a campus vigil for the Israelis kidnapped by Hamas terrorists as he blasted liberal universities across the country for not “taking a stand” against the attacks.
The educator’s impassioned comments come as college campuses across the country have become a hotbed of debate, rage and conflict between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups following the Oct. 7 Hamas invasion into Israel and subsequent and ongoing Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.
Thousands of innocent people on both sides of the border have been killed in the conflict.
“President Minouche Shafik of Columbia University, you are a coward,” Davidai shouted while noting President Biden and Mayor Eric Adams’ comments denouncing violence.
“Where are you, President Shafik of Columbia University? We are waiting for you to eradicate all pro-terror student organizations from campus,” he yelled out.
Davidai did not specify which student groups he considered to be “pro-terror” but referred to a protest last Thursday organized by Columbia’s chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace. Students Supporting Israel held a counter-protest at the same time.
He said he could not believe he witnessed hundreds of students — who he again claimed to be “pro-terror” — protesting at Columbia University last week.
Davidia cried out against the slaughter of 1,400 Israelis at the hands of Hamas militants and said such horrors were never OK “not as an act of resistance.”
“If my amazing 2-year-old daughter was now 18 years old, I would never — never — send her to Columbia,” the educator yelled. “Not because it’s not a great institution — it’s an amazing institution. But because I know that she will not be protected there because the president of the university allows pro-terrorists to march on campus.”
He then brazenly compared the protestors to the KKK or ISIS.
“Can you imagine that here we have pro-terror student organizations?” Davidia asks as he tells those watching to share the video recording of his speech.
He said he was not afraid to speak up but was speaking up because he was afraid of what he witnessed.
“I’m speaking up because I walked onto my own campus — the place that employs me, that is supposed to keep me safe — and I was shivering,” he said. “I am 40 years old and I was shivering to come to my own employment. Imagine not being able to go to your work because your boss does not value your life, because your boss supports pro-terror organizations.”
On Oct. 11, the day before the protests on campus, a 24-year-old Israeli student was beaten with a stick outside the University’s main library. Maxwell Friedman,19, was arrested for the attack and charged with second and third-degree assault, both as hate crimes.
The victim told the university’s student paper the Columbia Spectator he will not be returning to campus in the near future due to concerns for his safety
Pro-Palestinian students on campus have faced hate as well.
An unnamed Columbia University employee was recorded telling the student radio station WKCR: “I hope every one of these people die,” apparently referring to the pro-Palestinian student protestors at last Thursday’s demonstration.
Muslim students have been spat at and had their hijabs torn off on campus and activists were labeled “terrorists,” according to the Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine group.
President Shafik acknowledged students and professors’ concerns over “personal security” when “the atmosphere on campus is extremely charged” in a message to the Columbia community Wednesday, according to the Columbia Spectator.
“During any crisis in the world, our priority is providing immediate support to Columbia community members whose lives have been directly affected,” Shafik wrote. “Our day-to-day duty of care for the security and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff is paramount.”
She added that the university is “duty-bound to ensure [students] can gather and express themselves” but said she was “disheartened” that some Columbia community members have displayed “abhorrent rhetoric,” including the doxing and online harassment of some students.
“Unfortunately, some are using this moment to spread antisemitism, Islamophobia, bigotry against Palestinians and Israelis, and various other forms of hate,” Shafik wrote, according to the Spectator. “Especially at a time of pain and anger, we must avoid language that vilifies, threatens, or stereotypes entire groups of people.”
“It is antithetical to Columbia’s values and can lead to acts of harassment or violence,” she added. “When this type of speech is unlawful or violates University rules, it will not be tolerated.”
A spokesperson for the university did not immediately return a request for comment from The Post.
Students on both sides are demanding Columbia University take action to protect them from aggression.
A Jewish sophomore praised Davidai’s speech, which she called “overdue” while adding that she is now afraid while on campus.
“Among the Jews, he’s a hero,” she said of the educator. “But every professor should come out and condemn terrorism – people really don’t feel safe.”
“I think [Davidai] hit the nail on the head. The silence of the school is really deafening. When people chant, ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,’ that’s calling for the extermination of the Jewish people – and that needs to be condemned,” she added.
The student said that she never felt direct antisemitism at the embattled school – until last week. “This was my first taste of it. Now, I feel like the only people who have my back are my Jewish community on campus. I didn’t feel like that before.”
Starting last week, the student said a group chat was created to escort any Jewish students who felt unsafe around campus. While she hasn’t taken them up on it, the student said she was “nervous” to affix an Israeli flag to her backpack last week. “I wasn’t going to hide, but I was definitely nervous to walk around.”
Meanwhile, the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter at the university said “Islamophobic and anti-Black” hate is fueling attacks on campus and disproportionately impacting visibly Muslim women in an op-ed published by the Spectator.
“We demand that University President Minouche Shafik, Barnard President Laura Rosenbury, Interim Provost Dennis Mitchell, and the entire University administration take immediate measures to protect Black, brown, and Muslim students from becoming targets of the increased violence and aggression taking place on campus,” the chapter wrote.