Letter to the Administration of the Columbia University. Urgent Demand to Sever Ties with the Israeli Military and End Complicity in Genocide

Subject: Urgent Demand to Sever Ties with the Israeli Military and End Complicity in Genocide

To the Administration of Columbia University,

We, the undersigned students, faculty, alumni, and concerned members of the global community, write to you with grave urgency and moral outrage. Columbia University must immediately terminate all partnerships with the Israeli military and institutions complicit in the ongoing genocide against Palestinians—a crime against humanity unfolding in the 21st century.

Columbia’s Ties to the Israeli Military and Apartheid State

1. Dual-Degree Program with Tel Aviv University (TAU)

Columbia’s School of General Studies has established a dual-degree program with Tel Aviv University (TAU), an institution deeply enmeshed with the Israeli military-industrial complex. TAU not only hosts research collaborations with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) but also actively trains soldiers and officers, including those responsible for the current atrocities in Gaza .

2. Corporate and Research Funding from Weapons Manufacturers

Columbia’s financial investments and research partnerships include companies like Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon—all of which provide military technology and surveillance infrastructure to the Israeli occupation . These corporations profit from the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, and Columbia’s continued financial entanglement makes it complicit.

3. Former IDF Soldiers on Campus

In January 2024, two Columbia students—both former IDF soldiers—attacked pro-Palestinian protesters with "Skunk," a chemical weapon developed by the Israeli military for crowd control. This violent act, which left students injured and traumatized, underscores the dangerous normalization of militarized repression on campus .

4. Suppression of Pro-Palestinian Speech

Columbia has repeatedly targeted Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), suspending them for protesting genocide while allowing pro-Israel groups—including those linked to the IDF—to operate freely. This double standard reflects institutional bias in favor of apartheid and occupation .

5. Federal Pressure and Complicity

The Trump administration’s revocation of $400 million in funding was contingent on Columbia cracking down on pro-Palestinian activism, further aligning the university with state-backed repression . Instead of resisting this coercion, Columbia has expanded campus policing, restricted protests, and intensified surveillance—mirroring the tactics of the occupation forces it enables .

Moral and Legal Imperatives

- Genocide in Gaza: Over 35,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, including more than 14,000 children. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that Israel’s actions plausibly constitute genocide. Columbia must not be complicit.

- Violation of Human Rights & University Values: By maintaining ties with the IDF and its affiliates, Columbia betrays its stated commitment to "inclusive excellence" and academic freedom.

- Student and Faculty Opposition: Hundreds of professors have condemned Columbia’s repression of pro-Palestine voices, while students continue to face suspensions, arrests, and doxxing for demanding justice .

Our Demands

1. Immediately terminate the dual-degree program with Tel Aviv University.

2. Divest all endowment funds from companies supplying the Israeli military.

3. Ban recruitment and research collaborations with the IDF and its subsidiaries.

4. Reinstate SJP and JVP, drop charges against arrested protesters, and protect free speech.

5. Issue a public statement condemning Israel’s genocide and affirming solidarity with Palestinians.

Columbia University cannot claim to be a beacon of justice while it arms, funds, and legitimizes a regime of apartheid and mass murder. The world is watching. History will judge where you stood.

We expect your immediate response and action.

In solidarity,

Malik Mukhtar.

( Paste, write your Name and Post on your Social Media accounts, Groups, Blogs Please)

CC:Student Body, Faculty Senate, Media, Human Rights Organizations

Comments

Columbia President ( Katrina Armstrong) Is Replaced as Trump Threatens University’s Funding. Key Points. NYTimes

Key Points & Further Details on Columbia University Leadership Change 1. Presidential Change at Columbia University Katrina Armstrong stepped down as interim president of Columbia University. Claire Shipman , a journalist and Columbia alumna, was named acting president . Armstrong’s departure marks Columbia’s third leadership change since August 2024. 2. Trigger for Leadership Change The Trump administration threatened to withhold $400 million in federal funding from Columbia. This funding is roughly 20% of the university’s operating revenue . The university ultimately complied with government demands , causing internal and external backlash . 3. Government Demands & Columbia’s Compliance Columbia agreed to: Employ 36 campus safety officers with arrest powers . Adopt a formal definition of antisemitism . Review admissions policies . Increase oversight of its Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Department . These changes sparked faculty and...

Havens for Open Debate Or Enforcers of Political Orthodoxy. From Mahmood Khalil to Rumeysa Ozturk: The Rising Cost of Pro-Palestinian Activism on Campus.

The case of Rumeysa Ozturk , a Tufts University student detained by federal authorities , along with earlier incidents like that of Mahmood Khalil of Columbia University, raises serious concerns about the targeting of international students for their political views, particularly regarding Palestine-Israel discourse. This situation has broader implications for academic freedom, free speech, and the reputation of U.S. universities abroad , especially given the significant financial and intellectual contributions of international students to American higher education. --- 1. Impact on International Students: A Revenue & Reputation Concern - Financial Contribution : International students contribute $40 billion annually to the U.S. economy, with universities relying heavily on their tuition fees (often at higher out-of-state rates). - Chilling Effect : Cases like Ozturk’s and Khalil’s may deter prospective students from applying, fearing political perse...

Detour of Diplomacy: Netanyahu’s 400 km Flight Route to Dodge ICC Arrest.

Netanyahu’s Altered Flight Route to Washington: Avoiding ICC Arrest Warrant Risks The skies are no longer a safe passage for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu . Following the issuance of an ICC arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza , Netanyahu was forced to take a dramatically altered flight route to Washington, extending his journey by over 400 km to avoid the airspace of countries that could enforce the warrant . Drawing from reports by Haaretz and other trusted sources, this post unpacks the details of Netanyahu’s detour , the geopolitical implications , and how the ICC’s legal shadow is reshaping global diplomacy. Detailed overview of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s altered flight route to Washington to evade risks of arrest under the ICC warrant, as reported by Haaretz and other corroborating sources: 1. Flight Detour to Avoid ICC Enforcement Countries Netanyahu’s official plane, the Wing of Zion , took an unusual 400 km longer route to ...

Why Netanyahu Chose to Blow Up the Ceasefire and Return to War" Key Points. Mondoweiss

Key Points from the Article: "Why Netanyahu Chose to Blow Up the Ceasefire and Return to War" 1. Israel’s Resumption of War Israel resumed its military assault on Gaza early Tuesday, killing over 400 Palestinians , including 130 children . Key figures in Gaza’s civil administration were also targeted to weaken Hamas’s governance . 2. The Ceasefire Agreement and Israel’s Stalling Tactics A ceasefire deal was brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S . two months prior. The second phase of the deal included discussions about ending the war and reconstructing Gaza in exchange for Israeli captives . Netanyahu stalled , aiming to release captives without committing to ending the war . 3. Israel’s Blockade and Its Impact In early March , Israel blocked the Rafah crossing and cut off humanitarian aid , causing a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza . Prices of goods soared , bakeries shut down , and hospitals ran out of fuel . 4. Hamas’s Unexpected Move ...

Ignoring Massacres in Gaza City While Protesting for Democracy in Tel Aviv, Hanin Majadli. Key Points. Haaretz

Brief introduction of Hanin Majadli Hanin Majadli Hanin Majadli is a Palestinian Israeli journalist and editor at Haaretz , Israel's liberal-leaning newspaper. She holds a bachelor's degree in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic and Islamic Studies from Tel Aviv University. As an opinion columnist, Majadli focuses on the experiences and challenges of Arab-Palestinian communities in Israel , examining their complex relationships with the state and its Jewish citizens . She gives particular attention to the history of the Nakba and its deliberate omission from Israel's social and political narrative. In her role as editor of Haaretz 's Arabic edition , Majadli aims to broaden the reach of alternative Israeli perspectives, presenting journalistic work that diverges from mainstream Israeli media. Before joining Haaretz, Majadli founded a popular spoken Arabic school in Tel Aviv, promoting Arabic language and culture . She has also been active in addressing pol...

Ainnbeen

Search This Blog