The University of Minnesota rescinded a job offer to historian Raz Segal for its Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies after backlash over his criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza, which he called 'a textbook case of genocide.' Segal, represented by the Center for Constitutional Rights, reached a $250,000 settlement with the university, revealing a pressure campaign from donors and activists.
In June 2024, the University of Minnesota (UMN) offered historian Raz Segal the directorship of its Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, based on a near-unanimous committee recommendation. However, five days later, the offer was abruptly withdrawn due to 'perspective' from community members. This reversal followed intense backlash over Segal’s October 2023 op-ed in Jewish Currents, where he described Israel’s actions in Gaza as 'a textbook case of genocide.' Critics accused him of justifying Hamas crimes, an assertion Segal vehemently rejected. More than two years after the offer was rescinded, Segal reached a $250,000 settlement with UMN. The university did not admit wrongdoing. Segal stated the payout should encourage other scholars punished for criticizing Israel to 'fight back.' The settlement came after Segal obtained emails through a public records request, exposing a coordinated pressure campaign on university officials by donors, legislators, and pro-Israel activists. These documents, shared with the Guardian, showed UMN initially defending Segal before succumbing to pressure. One donor explicitly stated they would pull pledges if Segal, labeled an 'anti-Zionist,' headed the department. Segal, who is Jewish, a dual Israeli-US citizen, and a grandchild of Holocaust survivors, felt UMN leadership determined he was the 'wrong kind of Israeli and the wrong kind of Jew.' The Center for Constitutional Rights argued UMN's actions were unconstitutional, retaliating against constitutionally protected speech and violating academic freedom. Two UMN professors, Karen Painter and Bruno Chaouat, resigned in protest of Segal's hiring, accusing him of 'justifying Hamas atrocities.' Segal's article, however, condemned Hamas's attacks as 'mass murder' and 'a war crime.' Initially, UMN communications staff prepared to defend Segal, but as pressure mounted, they removed phrases about not applying 'political litmus tests' in hiring. UMN leadership ultimately withdrew the offer via a two-sentence email, citing the need to hear 'additional members of the University community' due to the director's 'community-facing and leadership role.' Further emails revealed significant donor influence, with one, Lynne Redleaf, warning that Segal's 'extreme' views on Israel would halt fundraising. Local legislators also weighed in, expressing relief at the withdrawal. Segal disputed the notion that his detractors represented the broader Jewish community, noting significant support from other Jewish individuals and groups. Ethan Roberts of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Minnesota and the Dakotas confirmed their group organized opposition, arguing Segal's views were inappropriate for a community-facing Holocaust center. Scores of Jewish professors and Holocaust scholars also defended Segal, with 40 signing a letter calling UMN's actions a 'dangerous precedent.' UMN faculty passed a no-confidence vote against the interim president and provost, and the American Association of University Professors called for Segal's reinstatement. While UMN implied other tenured positions might be offered, none materialized. Segal, now a tenured professor at Stockton University, feared the 'stigma' from the withdrawn offer damaged his academic prospects in the US. He continues to write about Israel's actions in Gaza, maintaining that genocide is 'far from over.' The position at UMN remains unfilled.
