Columbia pro-Israel prof gives surprise stance on Mahmoud Khalil deportation
"While I strongly disagree with Khalil's actions, I refuse to strip him or his wife of their humanity....it is essential that we remain level-headed, embrace complexity, and avoid rushing to judgment until the facts are clear," Shai Davidai writes on X.
Columbia University professor Shai Davidai, a vocal advocate for Israel and critic of campus pro-Palestinian activism, surprisingly came out with reservations about the attempt to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a reported leader of Columbia's Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement who has been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Despite his consistent opposition to BDS and what he describes as its Hamas propaganda, Davidai emphasized that Khalil deserves legal rights and a fair trial with media coverage, highlighting what he views as an opportunity to balance accountability with proper judicial proceedings and calling for due process and transparency.
"While I strongly disagree with Khalil's actions, I refuse to strip him or his wife of their humanity....it is essential that we remain level-headed, embrace complexity, and avoid rushing to judgment until the facts are clear," Shai Davidai writes on X. He then wrote in a separate tweet: "We have nothing to hide. Truth is on our side." He added, "This might shock my haters, but having worked closely with incarcerated men, I too worry about the dangers of a state apparatus acting in haste and potentially targeting people unchecked."
Columbia University assistant professor Shai Davidai, is denied access to the main Columbia campus in 2024 (AP / Stefan Jeremiah)
"Mahmoud Khalil, like every other ICE detainee, should be presumed innocent until proven guilty," stated Davidai, an assistant professor who has previously worked with incarcerated populations. Davidai argued that Khalil should have the opportunity to address several allegations regarding his leadership role in Columbia BDS over the past 17 months, including claims about the organization's relationships with other groups, such as Within Our Lifetime Palestine and the National Students for Justice in Palestine network.
While expressing concerns about what he characterized as Hamas propaganda allegedly spread by the organization, Davidai maintained that proper legal proceedings with media access would serve democratic principles. "Given the current political environment, the only way to guarantee that Mahmoud Khalil receives a fair trial is by allowing the media to cover it openly and transparently," Davidai noted.
The detention has highlighted ongoing tensions surrounding campus activism related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at Columbia University, which has experienced significant protests over the past year. Davidai is an assistant professor of business at Columbia University's Business School, where he specializes in behavioral science with a focus on judgment, decision-making, and social psychology.
Davidai earned his PhD in psychology from Cornell University and joined Columbia after previously serving as an assistant professor at The New School for Social Research. Davidai has become a more visible figure in discussions surrounding campus protests related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at Columbia University. Following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent war in Gaza, Davidai has been vocal in his criticism of pro-Palestinian campus activism, particularly targeting the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. He has been denied access to the main campus in recent months by administrators in what he has called an attempt to silence his criticism over their handling of antisemitic sentiment on campus.
In a video attacking the institution he wrote, "The university has decided to not allow me to be on campus anymore. My job. Why? Because of Oct. 7. Because I was not afraid to stand up to the hateful mob. And because I was not afraid to expose [Chief Operating Officer] Cas Holloway."
