Columbia’s Leading Antisemite

MOHSEN MAHDAWI

Mohsen Mahdawi, an anti-Israel activist, has been a student for nearly 16 years at elite schools including Columbia University. He openly advocates for the destruction of Israel and justifies Hamas terrorism.

He actively participates in the radical anti-Israel movement and serves as co-president of Columbia’s Palestinian Student Union, an organization advocating for the end of Israel. Mahdawi has openly expressed support for eliminating Israel, leading protests with chants such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

Mahdawi, an international student on an F-1 visa, has been flagged for visa revocation after celebrating the October 7 Hamas massacre, praising convicted terrorist Dalal Mughrabi, and openly advocating for violence against Jews.

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Mohsen Mahdawi wrote a poem that said “I will breathe home… And fill my shame, And clean my gun, And collect my packages, my bombs And embrace my gun”. The poem also praised Mughrabi, who perpetrated the 1978 Coastal Road massacre which murdered 8 Israeli civilians, including 13 children, and wounded 76 more.

In an interview with New England newspaper Valley News on October 22, 2023, Mohsen Mahdawi attempted to justify Hamas terrorism as a reaction to Israeli occupation, echoing sentiments often employed to legitimize violence against Israel. He and other anti-Israel student groups at Columbia issued a statement suggesting that resistance, a term often used as a euphemism for terrorism, is justified in the face of what they perceive as political deadlock. However, this justification overlooks the heinous acts committed by Hamas, such as the October 7, 2023, terror attacks, which resulted in numerous civilian casualties and atrocities including mass murder, beheadings, rape, and kidnapping.

During a televised interview on 60 Minutes in December 2023, Mahdawi downplayed the severity of Hamas attacks by likening them to a mere “punch in the face” and expressing empathy for the perpetrators. His attempt to rationalize terrorism as a response to perceived grievances further underscores his concerning stance.

Columbia University’s failure to confront antisemitism has led to uncontrollable escalation. Now, the administration must hold these individuals accountable and apply standard policies to prevent this hatred from continuing to thrive on campus.