Israel Palestine
8 Takeaways From Harvard’s Task Force Reports
The two University task force reports on bias against Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian affiliates described reports of threats, slurs, and social exclusion on Harvard's campus and put forth recommendations to address these issues and promote pluralism across the University.
Across 500 Pages, Harvard Task Force Reports Detail Hostility on Campus and Urge Broad Policy Changes
Harvard’s twin task forces on combating bias toward Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian affiliates released their long-awaited reports on Tuesday afternoon — describing an atmosphere of fear and exclusion, as well as deep divisions over curricula, protests, and the scope of academic freedom.
At Rally in Harvard Square, Protesters Accuse Harvard of Complicity With Trump
More than 100 protesters gathered in Cambridge Common on Friday evening at a rally accusing Harvard of censoring pro-Palestine speech and scholarship even as it resists the Trump administration’s demands.
Harvard Kennedy School Revokes Fellowship to Human Rights Activist, Saying Offer Was Premature
The Harvard Kennedy School’s Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights offered a fellowship to Columbia University professor and Human Rights Watch staff member A. Kayum Ahmed — and then, weeks later, withdrew the offer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
