Columbia University bars pro-Israel professor

WASHINGTON

Columbia University has barred pro-Israel professor Shai Davidai from its New York campus on accusations of harassment and intimidation directed at other employees.

Davidai teaches at the Columbia Business School.

"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," the school said in a statement carried out by multiple reports.

"Columbia, however, does not tolerate threats of intimidation, harassment, or other threatening behavior by its employees," said 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," it said.

Davidai filmed student activists and university officials on campus, accusing them of supporting pro-Hamas sentiments and questioning the actions permitted by the university, according to The Hill website.

On the anniversary of Hamas' attacks on Israel, Davidai posted a video in which he followed Cas Holloway, the university's chief operating officer, asking why pro-Palestinian protests were being allowed on campus.

The school became a focus of pro-Palestinian protests last year, which sparked nationwide demonstrations that made headlines in the wake of Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip.

Protestors demanded an end to the attacks and divestment from Israeli companies.