Nadia Abu-El-Haj, a professor at Columbia University and co-director of the Center for Palestine Studies, has built her academic reputation not on impartial scholarship, but on historical distortion, radical activism, and the promotion of extremist ideologies. Through her writings, public statements, and direct participation in disruptive campus movements, she has played a key role in fueling antisemitism and legitimizing hostility on campus.
Manipulating History to Erase Jewish Identity
Abu-El-Haj’s 2002 book, Facts on the Ground: Archaeological Practice and Territorial Self-Fashioning in Israeli Society, accused Israeli archaeologists of fabricating evidence to reinforce Jewish historical ties to Israel. These claims were widely criticized as politically motivated and academically unsound. Despite this, she was controversially granted tenure in 2007, sparking outrage from peers who cited her biased methodology and antisemitic undertones.
Championing Antisemitic Campus Movements
Her activism has gone beyond research. In 2015, she spearheaded efforts within the American Anthropological Association to boycott Israeli universities. While the boycott ultimately failed, her leadership reinforced her role in advancing movements that marginalize Jewish academics and delegitimize Israel under the pretext of solidarity.
Endorsing Terror and Justifying Hamas
On October 30, 2023, weeks after Hamas’s October 7 massacre that murdered over 1,200 Israeli civilians, Abu-El-Haj signed an open letter defending Columbia students who rationalized the atrocities as “resistance” and a “military response.” By endorsing this rhetoric, she effectively excused terrorism, hostage-taking, and violence against civilians.
Active Role in Columbia’s Encampments
Abu-El-Haj was an active participant in Columbia’s April–May 2024 pro-Hamas “Gaza Solidarity Encampment,” organized by Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD). The encampment was marked by antisemitic rhetoric, harassment of Jewish students, and the illegal occupation of campus property.
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April 19, 2024: Photographed at the encampment.
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April 22, 2024: Filmed in a faculty vest acting as a “guard.”
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May 1, 2024: Seen publicly addressing students and condemning police after the violent takeover of Hamilton Hall.
Her involvement provided legitimacy to protests that escalated into barricading university property, vandalism, and the holding of staff members hostage.
Fostering Hostility Toward Law Enforcement
Abu-El-Haj condemned NYPD efforts to restore order on campus and opposed disciplinary actions against students involved in violent occupations. She publicly defended Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate student with ties to Hamas, after his arrest by ICE, demonstrating her willingness to defend individuals aligned with terror-linked groups. She even compared Israel’s targeting of Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah to the 9/11 terror attacks, minimizing terrorism while vilifying Israel.
Conclusion: A Radical Posing as a Scholar
Nadia Abu-El-Haj has consistently used her role at Columbia to radicalize students, defend violence, and foster antisemitism. By undermining Jewish history, legitimizing Hamas terrorism, and protecting extremist activism on campus, she has contributed to a climate of hostility and fear for Jewish students. Columbia must confront whether maintaining faculty like Abu-El-Haj serves education—or endangers its integrity and campus safety.
