Israel Palestine
Department of Health and Human Services Broadens Harvard Investigation, Requests Antisemitism Task Force Documents
The United States Department of Health and Human Services broadened the scope of its investigation into Harvard on April 7 to include events at the entire University since Oct. 7, 2023, in addition to pro-Palestine imagery displayed by Harvard Medical School students at commencement ceremonies last spring.
Adams House Withdraws Support for Anti-Zionist Passover Event, Citing Policy on Unrecognized Student Groups
Adams House administrators withdrew funding and revoked a room reservation for a Saturday “anti-zionist Passover seder for liberation” organized by a group of Adams students as the College ramps up efforts to limit the presence of unrecognized student organizations on campus.
Former Birzeit President Accuses Harvard of Bowing to Pressure by Cutting Ties with His University
Former Birzeit University President Beshara Doumani slammed Harvard’s decision to cut ties with the Palestinian university as an act of political appeasement after speaking at the History Department’s Palestinian History event on Friday.
Bashar Masri Resigns From HKS Dean’s Council After Suit Alleges He Aided Hamas
Bashar Masri, a Palestinian-American billionaire, resigned from the Harvard Kennedy School’s Dean’s Council earlier this week, days after he was accused in a lawsuit of covertly building infrastructure for Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attack.
Summers Says Harvard Gave Trump an Opportunity To Threaten University Over Antisemitism Response
Former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers slammed Harvard’s leaders on Wednesday for acting too slowly against campus protesters and academic centers he accused of spreading antisemitism — which, he said, gave the Trump administration a window to threaten the University.
Harvard Medical School Launches Open Inquiry Working Group
Harvard Medical School has tapped a working group on open inquiry and the free exchange of ideas, HMS Dean George Q. Daley ’82 announced Wednesday.
Judge Denies Students’ Request To Join Kestenbaum in Antisemitism Suit
Efforts by two Harvard graduate students to join Alexander “Shabbos” Kestenbaum’s ongoing Title VI lawsuit against Harvard were cut short on Friday after U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns ruled to deny an amended complaint that added them as plaintiffs.
Kenneth Roth Says Universities Must Stand Up To Trump’s Attack on Academic Freedom
Former executive director of Human Rights Watch Kenneth Roth said universities must unite against the Trump administration’s “autocratically-inclined” attack on campus free speech at a Thursday evening book talk at the Cambridge Public Library.
Kestenbaum Required to Hand Over Documents in Ongoing Lawsuit, Judge Rules
Harvard Divinity School graduate Alexander “Shabbos” Kestenbaum will have to hand over a series of documents related to his ongoing Title VI lawsuit against Harvard, after a judge approved the University’s request to compel the production of documents on Wednesday.
Harvard Places Palestine Solidarity Committee on Probation Over Tuesday HOOP Rally
Harvard College placed the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee on probation and banned the organization from hosting public events until July on Wednesday over actions at a Tuesday rally hosted by Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine.
Harvard Divinity School Suspends Religion, Conflict, and Peace Initiative
Harvard Divinity School will suspend its Religion, Conflict, and Peace Initiative amid budget cuts at HDS and public accusations that the initiative’s programming presents a one-sided view of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Harvard AAUP Asks For Injunction To Halt Trump Administration Attempts To Deport Students, Faculty
The Harvard chapter of the American Association of University Professors filed a motion on Tuesday for an injunction to pause the Trump administration’s efforts to deport noncitizen students and faculty for expressing pro-Palestine views while their lawsuit continues.
Hoekstra Defends CMES Dismissals at Faculty Meeting, but Wavers on Harvard’s Next Move
Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Hopi E. Hoekstra stood by the decision to dismiss the director and associate director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies last week at a Tuesday FAS meeting.
300 Protesters Rally Against Trump, Garber, and Leadership Changes to University Centers
In the largest Harvard pro-Palestine rally this year, nearly 300 protesters marched from the Science Center, down Massachusetts Avenue, and through Widener Gate on Tuesday to protest the University “complying with fascism” and shake-ups at major academic centers on religion and the Middle East.
Harvard Opposes Plaintiffs’ Motion To Remain Unnamed in Kestenbaum Suit
Harvard filed its opposition in court on Friday to a motion to allow two plaintiffs to proceed pseudonymously as they seek to join Harvard Divinity School graduate Alexander “Shabbos” Kestenbaum’s ongoing Title VI lawsuit against the University.
Mass. Lawmakers Call for Release of Tufts Student Taken by ICE
Top Mass. lawmakers are calling for the release of Tufts student Rumeysa Ozturk following her arrest by federal immigration officers on the street last week over her pro-Palestine advocacy.
Garber Promises To ‘Engage’ With Federal Antisemitism Task Force After Funding Threats
Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 said he would welcome the opportunity to work with the White House in an email to Harvard affiliates just hours after the Trump administration initiated a review of more than $8 billion in federal funding.
Harvard Dismisses Leaders of Center for Middle Eastern Studies
Interim Harvard Dean of Social Science David M. Cutler ’87 dismissed the director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, professor of Turkish Studies Cemal Kafadar, and its associate director, History professor Rosie Bsheer, on Wednesday, according to a faculty member familiar with the situation.
Harvard’s Resources Should Be Restricted From Unrecognized Groups, College Dean Says
Outgoing Dean of the College Rakesh Khurana said unrecognized student groups — which include the majority of pro-Palestine protest groups on campus — are not allowed to use campus resources in a Tuesday interview with The Crimson.
HOOP Holds ‘Die-In’ Outside Widener To Protest War in Gaza
More than 60 Harvard affiliates wearing masks gathered on the steps of Widener Library on Thursday for a pro-Palestine “die-in” t0 protest the rising Palestinian death toll in the ongoing Israel-Hamas War.
HLS Admin Removes, Condemns Stickers Threatening Deportation of Pro-Palestine Student Activists
Harvard Law School officials took down two stickers that threatened pro-Palestine activists with deportation from a pole in the school’s main plaza, condemning them in a Thursday email to the full student body.
Harvard Suspends Research Partnership With Birzeit University in the West Bank
The Harvard School of Public Health suspended its research partnership with Birzeit University in the West Bank, bowing to longstanding calls to sever the collaboration.
As Antisemitism Lawsuit Drags On, Harvard Demands Kestenbaum’s Messages With Politicians
Harvard filed a motion on Friday to compel Harvard Divinity School graduate Alexander “Shabbos” Kestenbaum, the lead plaintiff in an ongoing Title VI lawsuit, to turn over communications with politicians and messages from the “Harvard Pro-Israel WhatsApp group.”
2 Months After Settlement, Kestenbaum Seeks To File Amended Antisemitism Complaint Against Harvard
Alexander “Shabbos” Kestenbaum and two unnamed plaintiffs asked on Thursday to file an amended complaint against Harvard in federal court, seeking to continue their lawsuit alleging Harvard failed to fight antisemitism.
Harvard Faces Calls To Disband PSC for Violating New Antisemitism Policies
More than 200 Harvard affiliates and alumni signed an open letter to University President Alan M. Garber ’76 on Wednesday urging Harvard to permanently dissolve the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee.