Columbia Professor Who Praised October 7 Hamas Attacks to Teach Zionism Course

Joseph Massad's upcoming course at Columbia University faces backlash, including a faculty resignation and criticism from public figures.

Columbia University professor Joseph Massad, who described the October 7 Hamas attacks as 'awesome' and 'astounding,' is set to teach a course on Zionism in Spring 2024.
The course, titled 'History of the Jewish Enlightenment and the Development of Zionism,' will explore the history of Zionism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as contemporary peace processes.
Massad's comments on the Hamas attacks, published in an article for The Electronic Intifada, have drawn widespread criticism, including from U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres and the Israeli embassy in the U.S.
Lawrence Rosenblatt, an adjunct professor at Columbia, resigned in protest, arguing that Massad's views undermine the university's intellectual and moral integrity.
The controversy has reignited debates about academic freedom and the role of universities in addressing polarizing political ideologies.