The report by the Presidential Task Force on Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Bias has brought to light systemic issues of anti-Semitism and national-origin discrimination within Harvard University, particularly affecting Israeli and Jewish students. The findings were released as federal funding threats loom from the Trump administration, which accuses the university of being ‘rotten to the bone’ due to ideological one-sidedness and an emphasis on social-justice activism. Harvard’s leadership has refuted the allegations, arguing that the administration is overreaching by attempting to dictate academic content and practices.
The report, which was compiled by the Task Force and supported by alumni groups and lawmakers, has demonstrated that Harvard has a serious discrimination problem, with recommendations for substantial disciplinary action against those responsible for the ‘dire’ conditions faced by Israeli students. Despite these recommendations, no disciplinary action has been taken, as highlighted by the case of a Harvard Law student who assaulted an Israeli classmate and was subsequently awarded a $65,000 fellowship by the university to work at the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Harvard President Alan Garber has responded to these criticisms by rejecting the Trump administration’s demands for more scrutiny into the ideological viewpoints of students, faculty, and staff, as well as for reducing the power of certain individuals targeted for their ideology.
The report also includes other examples of ideological bias, such as a mandatory class at the Harvard Graduate School of Education that featured a ‘Pyramid of White Supremacy’ which categorizes ‘anti-Defamation League’ and ‘anti-BDS’ as part of the pyramid. This has been criticized as an example of ideological indoctrination and has raised questions about the curriculum’s objectivity. Furthermore, the report documents instances where discrimination was grounded in progressive justifications about victimhood and colonialism, and where Jewish students were met with retorts challenging the marginalization of Palestinians. The report also mentions a directive from Harvard’s Divinity School to Jewish students to ’embrace de-zionization,’ which attributes two great sins to Jews: the establishment of Israel and the Palestinian Nakba, as well as participation in White supremacy.
These findings indicate a broader issue at Harvard where acceptance in a politically liberal space is contingent upon disavowing Israel, creating an environment where Jewish and Israeli students may face harassment. A student reportedly felt lucky to not look Jewish, indicating the need to conceal their identities to avoid negative experiences. The report thus highlights significant challenges in addressing discrimination at Harvard, despite ongoing efforts to implement reforms.