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Social media users are celebrating the temporary suspension of a pro-Israel professor at Columbia University who "repeatedly harassed" colleagues.
Columbia University's spokesperson confirmed Shai Davidai, who has been an assistant professor at the business school since 2019, was temporarily suspended because he has "repeatedly harassed and intimidated University employees in violation of University policy."
"Columbia has consistently and continually respected Assistant Professor Davidai's right to free speech and to express his views. His freedom of speech has not been limited and is not being limited now," Wert wrote in a statement to Columbia Spectator. "Columbia, however, does not tolerate threats of intimidation, harassment, or other threatening behavior by its employees."
Despite being barred from campus, Davidai is still considered a faculty member and will continue receiving his salary, Spectator reported. The school's spokesperson added he is allowed back after he "undertakes appropriate training on our policies governing the behavior of our employees."
The firing comes after Davidai, who's an Israeli citizen, shared a video of himself asking the University's Chief Operating Officer Cas Holloway how he could allow pro-Palestine students, whom he referred to as "pro-Hamas," to protest on Oct. 7.
— Shai Davidai (@ShaiDavidai) October 7, 2024
In another X video from Oct. 7, Davidai called the school's Assistant Director of Public Safety Bobby Lau "useless" during the pro-Palestinian walkout.
"USELESS" are the words asistant Professor Shai Davidai uses to address Assistant Director of Public Safety, Bobby Lau, of the walkout in support of Palestine happening at Columbia University. pic.twitter.com/pMFhz2J23a
— Andrea Falche Dominicci (@falchedominicci) October 7, 2024
The assistant professor has also called his colleague Rashid Khalidi, a Palestinian scholar at Columbia, a "spokesperson for Hamas" and doxed another professor who he said was "OK with rape, murder, torture and kidnapping," according to reporting by the New York Times. He has also harassed pro-Palestinian students and accused student groups of supporting terrorism.
Davidai said in an X update that he was suspended because of the videos with Cas Holloway and Bobby Lau, adding, "They don't like being exposed."
"Because I posted those videos, and now everybody knows Cas Holloway's name and Bobby Lau's name, they retaliate. They don't like being exposed." https://t.co/Fv1hPsX1pb
— Shai Davidai (@ShaiDavidai) October 16, 2024
In another post, he accused Holloway of retaliating against him. The accompanying video has since been deleted.
📢📢IMPORTANT UPDATE📢📢
— Shai Davidai (@ShaiDavidai) October 16, 2024
Last week, I posted a video of Cas Holloway, @Columbia's COO, allowing a Hamas march on campus in celebrationg of the October 7 Massacre.
He has now retaliated and had me suspended from campus.
See link for more infohttps://t.co/2KGNKWvwFt
When news of Davidai's suspension came to light, social media users were quick to share their elation. User @JoshuaPHilll wrote, "Happy Shai Davidai has been banned from Columbia University's campus for harassment day to all who celebrate," and many others shared jokes at Davidai's expense.
Happy Shai Davidai has has been banned from Columbia University's campus for harassment day to all who celebrate
— Read Abolish Rent (@JoshuaPHilll) October 15, 2024
SHAI DAVIDAI CONFIRMED BANNED FROM COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CAMPUS https://t.co/6rfiTYkFJN pic.twitter.com/jgihzDM4Be
— Séamus Malekafzali (@Seamus_Malek) October 16, 2024
So Shai Davidai gets banned from Columbia and the author of that smear piece on Ta-Nehisi Coates gets fired. Maybe there is finally some accountability.
— Keith Orejel (@keithdorejel) October 16, 2024
Shai Davidai trying to get into Columbia buildings today pic.twitter.com/nsWIg0KPiI https://t.co/S5PirZouKL
— the Beverly of Cheverly (@NickoGallo) October 16, 2024
Another responded to Davidai's X post, writing "...you've been an issue on campus for YEARS..." adding "this is ALL ON YOU."
Lol you've been an issue on campus for YEARS. Your stalking, harassment, bullying, incessant lurking on students when you aren't even assigned classes to teach for the semester....this is ALL ON YOU. Own up to your bullshit you terminal crybaby victim.
— Nas النسيبة (@icurseincursive) October 16, 2024
Other users shared a similar sentiment with some even sharing personal anecdotes of interactions they've had with the banned professor.
No, everyone knows you harassed them. Good luck in suing the people that you harassed, I'm sure the jury will be sympathetic.
— Katie (@katie_k8nurse) October 16, 2024
This guy is having a full on mental breakdown episode and is wondering why they aren't letting him on campus? You are a danger to yourself and everyone around you, Shai.
— Nir Hagigi (@nirhagigi) October 16, 2024
Lol you were my long haired camp counselor in Maine in 2005. it is hilarious to watch karma come for you as you have a temper tantrum searching your name on Twitter. We get it, you're a right wing grifter who will be doing a "victim of the media" pivot. Jews don't stand with you.
— ben 💅🌹 (@blernerdidthat) October 16, 2024
X user @taylorontop tweeted at the Zionist professor to say he can "always apply to Trump University."
You can always apply to Trump University!
— NayTay (@taylorontop) October 16, 2024
Suppressed News also shared what they expect Davidai's reaction was after he heard the news.
⚡️BREAKING:
— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) October 15, 2024
Shai Davidai, the business professor who is known solely for obsessively harassing Ivy League students, spreading so much zionist propaganda and hate, is now reportedly BANNED from Columbia's campus for harassment. [Video of his expected reaction] pic.twitter.com/GOcl7U0vje
One X user admonished anyone coming to Davidai's defense, referencing one of the numerous stories of university professors being violently arrested for attending pro-Palestinian protests.
For those defending Shai Davidai, remember that you said nothing when other professors were being body slammed, hospitalized, arrested, suspended, and fired. All of you are spineless academics who have lost all sense of humanity. pic.twitter.com/A1QPTnbQTL
— Jairo I. Fúnez-Flores (@Jairo_I_Funez) October 16, 2024
Since Oct. 7, 2023, Al Jazeera reported 43,165 Palestinians and 1,139 people in Israel have been killed since October 7, 2023.
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