Lara Jirmanus, a Lebanese-Palestinian physician and lecturer at Harvard University, has emerged as one of the most radical faculty voices fusing healthcare with extremist politics. Instead of focusing on neutral scholarship, Jirmanus uses her Harvard title and medical credentials to legitimize antisemitic activism, accuse Zionism of “genocide,” and push for divestment from Jewish and Israeli institutions. Her activism exemplifies how Harvard faculty are weaponizing medicine to normalize campus extremism.
FSJP Organizing & Faculty Activism
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January 2024: Signed the founding letter establishing Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine (FSJP) at Harvard.
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January 2024: Signed the now-deleted FSJP statement defending pro-Palestinian encampments and demanding divestment.
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January 2024: Co-signed a petition urging Harvard to sever ties with Israel entirely.
Her actions tie Harvard’s medical faculty directly to organizing efforts that shield pro-Hamas activism under “academic freedom.”
Accusations & Protest Activity
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April 2024: On a podcast, claimed Harvard “invests in and profits off genocide.”
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May 2024: Publicly defended campus encampments, calling for full divestment.
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January 2025: Spoke at a healthcare workers’ rally for Gaza, portraying Israel as the sole cause of a medical crisis.
By reframing terrorism as a “health emergency,” Jirmanus extends campus radicalism into professional healthcare networks.
Publications on the “Palestine Exception”
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June 2024: Harvard’s Punitive ‘Palestine Exception’ — accused Harvard of discriminatory discipline against pro-Palestinian students.
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June 2024: To Repair Trust, Harvard Must End the Palestine Exception and Let Seniors Graduate — framed disciplinary action against student activists as political targeting.
These writings blend medical authority with political agitation, reinforcing her role as faculty activist rather than neutral academic.
Public Events & Media Advocacy
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January 2024: Panelist at Palestine Speaks: Medical Response to Genocide in Palestine, labeling Israel’s actions as “genocide” and recasting the war in medical terms.
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Ongoing: Uses interviews, podcasts, and public speaking to act as both physician and activist, rather than objective educator.
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Since 2006: Long record of political commentary on Middle Eastern issues, predating her Harvard tenure.
A Platform for Extremism, Not Education
Lara Jirmanus has built a dual identity at Harvard: doctor and radical activist. Through FSJP organizing, rallies, accusatory op-eds, and “Palestine exception” publications, she has transformed healthcare discourse into a tool for extremist politics.
By labeling Israel’s self-defense as “genocide,” defending encampments, and campaigning for divestment, Jirmanus illustrates how Harvard faculty launder antisemitic activism into the language of health and human rights. Her presence undermines academic neutrality and contributes to campus radicalization.
