New York City – Today, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Queens & Brooklyn) called on Columbia University to fire a professor who has used his classroom to espouse anti-Semitic views.

            According to recent news reports, professors on the faculty of Columbia’s Department of Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Culture have expressed anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli views on several occasions.  The conduct of one of those professors, Joseph Massad, has been particularly troubling.

            Massad is alleged to have likened Israel to Nazi Germany, said that Israel doesn't have the right to exist as a Jewish state, and asked an Israeli student “how many Palestinians have you killed” and then refused to allow the student to ask questions. 

            Today, Rep. Weiner urged Columbia University President Lee Bollinger to fire Massad and publicly denounce anti-Semitism on campus. 

“I write to request that you fire Professor Massad for his displays of anti-Semitism,” wrote Weiner to Bollinger.  “Recent events continue to suggest a disturbing trend in which Columbia’s administration has not been sensitive to issues of race.  By publicly rebuking anti-Semitic events on campus and terminating Professor Massad, Columbia would make a brave statement in support of tolerance and academic freedom.”