American Prestige E223 - Columbia, Trump, and the Palestine Exception w/ Rashid Khalidi
Aug 26, 2025
Rashid Khalidi, Edward Said Professor Emeritus at Columbia University and author of The Hundred Years' War on Palestine, returns to share insights on the recent agreement between Columbia and the Trump administration. The discussion highlights the troubling intersection of academic freedom and the definition of antisemitism, donor influence on universities, and shifting public opinions on Israel. Khalidi also introduces an engaging lecture series on Palestinian history, aiming to enhance understanding and support educational efforts in the region.
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Columbia’s Agreement Threatens Academic Freedom
- Columbia accepted Trump administration terms that significantly restrict academic freedom and install outside oversight.
- Those terms include a monitor with broad access and use of the IHRA definition of antisemitism to police criticism of Israel.
IHRA Definition Used To Chill Scholarship
- The IHRA definition is being used to equate criticism of Israel with antisemitism and chill teaching and scholarship.
- Faculty have refused to teach courses that risk being labeled antisemitic under this broadened definition.
Holocaust Scholar Stopped Teaching
- A Holocaust scholar and daughter of survivors stopped teaching rather than risk disciplinary action for course content.
- Other Columbia faculty were forced out or left because of complaints tied to Israel criticism.
