Dueling lawsuits allege discrimination against Jews, Palestinians at Columbia

• Published date: 26 April 2024
• Author: LEON KRAIEM
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The Palestine Legal lawsuit alleges "targeted and pervasive harassment of Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims, and groups associated with Palestinians on campus on the basis of ethnicity[,] national origin[,] or perceived national origin."

It lists as examples "discrimination, stereotyping, different treatment, harassment, and threats," which it calls "the product of both a deep-rooted, dehumanizing bigotry against Palestinians, as well as organized campaigns by anti-Palestinian groups and government officials to suppress speech." The lawsuit cites news reports and public displays naming students involved in pro-Palestinian organizing and the threats that pro-Palestinian student organizations and activists received in the aftermath.

The lawsuit invokes what it calls the "January 19 Attack," when, it says, "students were attacked with a harmful chemical substance on Columbia's campus." The incident, when students reported a substance with a putrid smell that came with burning eyes and nausea, drew allegations that Israeli students had used 'skunk,' a foul-smelling chemical used by IDF forces as a crowd-control measure.

A separate lawsuit, filed by a student accused of deploying the chemical, asserts that the source of the smell was "a novelty, non-toxic 'fart' spray named 'Liquid Ass' and 'Wet Farts' which he purchased on Amazon for $26.11."

The Palestine Legal filing also devotes a four-page section to the statements and actions of Professor Shai Davidai, the Israeli-American professor at Columbia Business School who has played a high-profile role opposing what he views as inadequate action by the university to respond to antisemitism.

The filing identifies Davidai as the "son of an allegedly wealthy Israeli executive with ties to weapons manufacturing" and lists instances in which Davidai publicized the names and actions of Palestinian students. Davidai's Columbia ID was disabled this week, leaving him unable to enter the campus.

The action goes on to make eleven demands, including that Columbia reverse suspensions imposed on students for actions related to the encampments, drop any related civil charges, expunge those students' records, and offer to pay for their psychotherapy.

It also demands that Columbia grant a full scholarship to "students who have suffered from...