Rashid Khalidi, a professor of modern Arab studies at Columbia University, has played an active role in normalizing antisemitism and supporting radical movements on campus. His participation in the pro-Hamas encampment at Columbia in May 2024 and his repeated public statements justifying terrorist violence have contributed to a hostile environment for Jewish students.
Support for Terrorism and Antisemitic Rhetoric
Khalidi has repeatedly justified acts of terrorism against Israeli civilians. In interviews with Jewish Currents (May 2022) and Democracy Now! (May 2022), he referred to Palestinian terrorists, including suicide bombers of the Second Intifada, as “resistance fighters.” He described Hamas atrocities as “acts of spontaneous resistance” and insisted that “the occupation doesn’t have the right to call resistance ‘terrorists.’” Such framing glorifies violence and erases the murder of civilians.
Reports from the Los Angeles Times and Washington Times confirm that Khalidi worked as a spokesman and director of the PLO press agency in the 1970s–1980s, when the group carried out deadly terror attacks including the Munich Massacre. He has also invoked antisemitic conspiracy theories, claiming that “a group of people… in Israel and the United States… [are] going to infest our government” (WBEZ, 2017), and has accused Israel of controlling American media coverage.
Participation in Campus Encampments
At Columbia University, Khalidi participated in the encampments during April and May 2024, where he addressed students and faculty. In his speech he accused Israel of committing “genocide” with U.S. support and condemned Columbia’s administration, saying they would “go down in infamy.” These protests, where Khalidi was present, were marked by antisemitic chants, vandalism, and the intimidation of Jewish students.
Spreading Antisemitic Narratives
In numerous articles and interviews, Khalidi has accused Israel of “ethnic cleansing,” “mass murder,” and “colonial war.” He defended the use of the chant “From the River to the Sea,” a slogan widely condemned as antisemitic because it calls for the elimination of the State of Israel. He has further denied Jewish connection to the land of Israel, framing Zionism as illegitimate and portraying Jews as usurpers rather than an indigenous people.
Key Takeaways
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Repeatedly justified terrorism by labeling suicide bombers and Hamas attackers as “resistance fighters.”
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Participated in the Columbia encampments in 2024, which were marred by antisemitic rhetoric and campus violence.
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Promoted antisemitic conspiracy theories about Jews controlling government and media.
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Defended rhetoric such as “From the River to the Sea,” which is widely recognized as calling for the destruction of Israel.
Rashid Khalidi’s actions show a clear pattern of justifying terrorism and fueling antisemitic hostility on campus. His influence at Columbia University has contributed to an unsafe and divisive environment, raising serious concerns about the institution’s ability to protect Jewish students and maintain academic integrity.
