Columbia University is facing backlash after it was revealed that a professor who referred to the October 7 attack on Israel by the terrorist group Hamas as “awesome” will be teaching a course on Zionism.
Joseph Massad will teach students a course covering the “History of the Jewish Enlightenment (Haskala) in 19th century Europe and the development of Zionism through the current peace process between the state of Israel and the Arab states and the Palestinian national movement.” Massad has drawn criticism after he published a column on The Electronic Intifada the day after Hamas launched its attack, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis. In the column, he described the sight of Hamas fighters storming Israeli checkpoints as “astounding” and called their actions “awesome.”
“The sight of the Palestinian resistance fighters storming Israeli checkpoints separating Gaza from Israel was astounding, not only to the Israelis but especially to the Palestinian and Arab peoples who came out across the region to march in support of the Palestinians in their battle against their cruel colonizers,” Massad wrote. “No less awesome were the scenes witnessed by millions of jubilant Arabs who spent the day watching the news, of Palestinian fighters from Gaza breaking through Israel’s prison fence or gliding over it by air.”
The announcement of Massad’s course has sparked condemnation from political figures and the public. Congressman Ritchie Torres criticized the decision on social media, stating, “What’s next at Columbia? David Duke teaching a course on anti-racism.”
“Why should US taxpayers subsidize ideological indoctrination that glorifies the mass murder, maiming, mutilation, rape, and abduction of Jews and Israelis,” Torres asked.
The controversy over Massad’s remarks has already caused tension on campus. Lawrence Rosenblatt, an adjunct professor at the university, announced his resignation in protest over the university allowing Massad to teach the course.
“While Massad has a right to think what he thinks, and speak what he believes, Columbia has a responsibility to teach objectively and fairly,” Rosenblatt said in a resignation letter, according to the Jerusalem Post. “At best perhaps one could tolerate a class on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict co-taught from the many diverse Israeli and Palestinian perspectives, though not by someone who advocates for the eradication of a group of people.”
