Columbia Professor Cancels Course, Accuses University of Capitulating to Trump and Suppressing Free Speech on Israel

2025-08-01 12:00:31.653

Professor Rashid Khalidi, a renowned scholar of modern Arab studies, has cancelled his course on modern Middle East history at Columbia University due to the university's adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. He argues that this definition conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism, making it impossible to honestly discuss topics such as the creation of Israel and the ongoing Palestinian conflict. Khalidi contends that Columbia's decision, made in collaboration with the Trump administration, infringes on academic freedom and creates a climate of fear and self-censorship. He describes the university's actions as a capitulation to anti-intellectual forces and an attempt to cover up the ongoing genocide in Gaza. He plans to offer a public lecture series on the same topic, with proceeds going to Gaza's universities.