Rashid Khalidi, the Edward Said professor emeritus of modern Arab studies at Columbia University, has written an important and timely announcement. He will be on leave in the coming fall semester. This decision is a welcome counterweight to a much-maligned deal struck between Columbia University and the Trump administration. Khalidi loudly opposed this deal in a blistering public letter. The Guardian ran the letter on Friday. Its frankness laid bare his deep worries about how the deal might jeopardize academic independence at U.Va.
Khalidi graduated last year after more than two decades at Columbia, and he expressed anger over the pact. He argues that it warps the meaning of Jewish identity by equating it with the political state of Israel. He argued that this conflation inhibits honest discourse about critical historical events, stating it makes it “impossible to teach honestly about the creation of Israel” and the “genocide in Gaza perpetrated by Israel.”
In his letter, Khalidi unequivocally articulated the destructive effects of the agreement. It would be devastating to faculty, teaching assistants, and students as well. In particular, he stressed that the university’s policies would place limits on their expression. This is how he explained these policies as a “fearsome apparatus” to punish any dissent about Israel. This environment, he argued, has led to a climate of fear where academic freedom suffers.
“This agreement conflates Jewishness with Israel, so that any criticism of Israel, or indeed description of Israeli policies, becomes a criticism of Jews.” – Rashid Khalidi
Columbia University’s recent decision to pay $21 million to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission over alleged civil rights violations against Jewish employees has intensified scrutiny on its handling of sensitive topics related to Israel and Palestine. Khalidi explained that such intrusive measures are symptomatic of an overall climate on campus that suppresses debate and critical thought.
He shared his sadness at what he called the “anti-university” climate. He characterized it as a culture of “fear and loathing” which clamps down on faculty and students, controlling what they can say and teach under threat of draconian punishment.
“The fearsome apparatus that Columbia has erected to punish speech critical of Israel, and to crack down on alleged discrimination – which at this moment in history almost invariably amounts simply to opposition to this genocide.” – Rashid Khalidi
His course cancellation has reignited debates over the issue of academic freedom on campuses. This year’s event especially underscores the impact of inflammatory political topics on our schools’ climate and culture. His decision underscores the complexities surrounding discussions of Israel and Palestine in academic settings, raising questions about how universities navigate these challenging terrains.