Pro-'Israel' Columbia professor departs in "mutual agreement"

Columbia University assistant professor Shai Davidai has officially parted ways with the Ivy League institution after months of controversy surrounding his conduct and public comments amid rising tensions over the war in Gaza.

Davidai, a vocal pro-'Israel' advocate who previously taught at Columbia Business School, left the university on July 8, 2025. His departure follows what the university has described as a “mutual agreement” that he would not return to teaching. His access to campus had been restricted since October 2024 after what officials described as “intimidation” toward university employees.

“Assistant Professor of Business Shai Davidai has decided to depart Columbia, effective July 8, 2025,” a university spokesperson said in a statement. “Assistant Professor Davidai has chosen, by mutual agreement with the University, to not return to teaching at Columbia. The University thanks him for his service and wishes him the best in his future endeavors.”

But Davidai painted a starkly different picture in his own explanation. Writing on X, he said, “I didn’t leave Columbia to ‘pursue other endeavors.’ I left because I no longer trust its so-called leadership to confront the anti-Jewish, anti-Israel, and anti-American hate festering on campus.”

I didn’t leave @Columbia to “pursue other endeavors.”

I left because I no longer trust its so-called leadership to confront the anti-Jewish, anti-Israel, and anti-American hate festering on campus.

During my six years there, I met plenty of well-paid bureaucrats — but not once…

— Shai Davidai (@ShaiDavidai) July 11, 2025

In the same post, he accused the university of being overrun by bureaucrats and claimed there were no “true leaders” during his six years at the institution.

Investigation closed without findings

Davidai had been under investigation by Columbia’s Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) over allegations of harassment, but the probe was quietly closed when he left the university. In a letter from Vice Provost Laura Kirschstein, shared by Davidai online, the university stated that the OIE investigations “closed without issuing any findings or conclusions of wrongdoing, and without imposing any discipline or penalty.”

BOOM.

(Please help me spread this. @Columbia tried to smear my name. I wouldn’t let them. Today, they finally admitted that I hadn’t done anything wrong.) pic.twitter.com/P7Af6QrJXD

— Shai Davidai (@ShaiDavidai) July 9, 2025

However, a separate letter received by students who had filed complaints indicated that the process had simply “been terminated without any determination,” leaving ambiguity about whether any conclusions were ever reached.

Legal scholars and faculty members have since raised concerns about the way the university handled the process, suggesting the closure of the investigation without findings was procedural rather than exculpatory.

Davidai’s departure follows a year of heightened tensions at Columbia, with large-scale pro-Palestinian student demonstrations and faculty walkouts over the university’s handling of the 'Israel'-Gaza war discourse.

Davidai, who was not tenured, was repeatedly accused of harassing students and faculty, both online and in person. In April 2024, he referred to pro-Palestinian students as “the Hitler Youth” in a now-deleted post. He also used his social media platforms, where he has over 100,000 followers, to call for the US National Guard to intervene on campus.

More than 13,000 students signed a petition calling for his termination, accusing him of using his platform to bully and target students, particularly Palestinians who had lost family in Gaza.

Critics also said he endangered others by naming them online and tagging federal law enforcement agencies. In one instance, he called for the deportation of Columbia graduate student and Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil.

In another case, Davidai tagged former Columbia faculty member Mohamed Abdou in posts to the FBI and Homeland Security. Abdou later learned during a congressional hearing on antisemitism that he had been dismissed from his position.

Davidai’s on-campus access was previously restricted in October 2024, with Columbia citing concerns over “threats of intimidation, harassment, or other threatening behavior by its employees.” The university said at the time that he would undergo policy training. He was temporarily barred again in April 2025 after threatening to hold a pro-'Israel' sit-in at a pro-Palestinian encampment.