(CNN) – Columbia University has temporarily banned pro-Israel professor Shai Davidai from campus for “repeatedly harassing and intimidating” school employees, according to a university spokesperson.
“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,” a university spokesperson said in a statement to CNN.
The university said the ban of Davidai, an assistant professor at the university’s business school since 2019, is related to conduct last week at the time of an October 7 commemoration.
The spokesperson also said the school respects Davidai’s right to free speech. “His freedom of speech has not been limited and is not being limited now. Columbia, however, does not tolerate threats of intimidation, harassment, or other threatening behavior by its employees,” the spokesperson added.
The Ivy League school in New York was the epicenter of pro-Palestinian protests at US college campuses this spring. In August, university President Minouche Shafik stepped down after she came under criticism for authorizing arrests on campus and for her testimony to the House Education Committee about the university’s handling of antisemitism.
Davidai’s temporary ban was issued about a week after he participated in a memorial service on campus for October 7th in which he posted videos online confronting a university official.
Davidai told CNN he encourages people to watch the videos and assess for themselves whether they think they are harassment.
He took issue with the school’s action. “The only professor that was suspended is the Jewish Israeli professor who called out the support for terrorism on campus,” Davidai said.
Although Davidai is not teaching a class this semester, he cannot go into his office, attend faculty meetings or research seminars and is, “for all intents and purposes removed from university life,” he said.
On October 7, Jewish students gathered at Columbia University in an organized memorial service to mark the one-year anniversary of the massacre in Israel.
The October 7, 2023, attacks left more than 1,200 Israelis dead – the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust – and Hamas continues to hold many people hostage.
Israel’s war against Hamas has left 40,000 people dead in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. The brutal war in Gaza and its massive civilian death toll has ignited widespread fury, even among Israel’s allies. (cont.)