Abigail Krasner Balbale is the Director of Graduate Studies and an Assistant Professor of Islamic History in the Department of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at New York University (NYU). She has repeatedly signed petitions and issued statements defending anti-Israel activism on campus, aligning with groups that frame antisemitic rhetoric and disruptive protests as legitimate academic expression.
Defense of Anti-Israel Activism on Campus
In December 2024, Balbale signed a letter organized by NYU Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine (FSJP) objecting to faculty arrests and “persona non grata” designations following campus protests. In January 2025, she cited an article on NYU’s handling of pro-Palestinian protesters, positioning her remarks as part of the broader debate on “student speech” and academic freedom. In August 2024, she praised the Middle East Studies Association for criticizing NYU’s use of antisemitism claims to challenge criticism of Zionism, further reinforcing her alignment with activist faculty defending encampment actions.
Petitions and Statements on Israel and Gaza
Balbale has consistently signed public petitions that accuse Israel of genocide and attack its educational and cultural institutions:
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February 2025: Signed a petition urging the American Historical Association (AHA) Council to rescind its veto of the “Resolution to Oppose Scholasticide in Gaza.”
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April 2024: Signed a letter condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza and accusing Israel of targeting educational infrastructure.
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October 2023: Signed a public statement warning of “potential genocide in Gaza.”
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October 2023: Supported a statement claiming “Anti-Zionism is not Antisemitism,” a common activist framing that downplays antisemitic elements in anti-Israel rhetoric.
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December 2023: Posted in defense of journalist Masha Gessen after they compared Gaza to the Holocaust, criticizing the revocation of Gessen’s prize as “antisemitic.”
Other Activity
In October 2018, Balbale re-posted and donated to a fundraiser for HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society). In May 2024, she reposted criticism of Israel’s Foreign Minister for referring to Al-Andalus as “radical Islam,” calling the claim “ahistorical hogwash.”
Conclusion
By repeatedly signing petitions and endorsing public statements that accuse Israel of genocide, defend disruptive campus protests, and blur the line between anti-Zionism and antisemitism, Abigail Krasner Balbale has positioned herself among NYU faculty who normalize anti-Israel extremism on campus. Her activism contributes to an environment where antisemitic rhetoric and hostility toward Jewish students are excused under the banner of academic freedom.
