Why the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies in Minnesota has no head
JVL Introduction
As a scholar Israeli academic Raz Segal made two mistakes.
He tried to place the events of October 7th in historical context. And, that October, he allowed the logic of his analysis to lead him to the conclusion that Israel’s response was genocidal.
For some, trying to understand the events of that day is illegitimate. As one donor put it: “We cannot allow someone like Raz Segal a blatant anti Zionist to head the department of Holocaust studies.”
The University of Minnesota withdrew an offer for Segal to lead its Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies after an organised campaign against his hiring.
Initially the university stood by Segal, but as the pressure from its donors mounted, it gave way and rescinded its invitation to him.
As Segal said in an interview, the UMN leadership “determined that I’m the wrong kind of Israeli and the wrong kind of Jew”.
Ironically, he is the grandchild of four Holocaust survivors.
You can also listen to the Jewish Currents on the Nose Podcast Genocide Studies Departments Still Can’t Name Genocide in Gaza
This article was originally published by the Guardian on Thu 6 Aug 2026. Read the original here.
An Israeli professor lost a prestigious US job offer after speaking out on Gaza. Now the university is paying him $250,000
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Raz’s academic work is exemplary.
The collective statement of Scholars 20th May 2021 is really worth publishing too alongside Raz’s work -The Modern State the question of Genocide and Holocaust Scholarship.
Well done JVL for highlighting a tough subject for academics who speak out against Israel or call out Genocide. Jobs have been rescinded because of dark forces that can manipulate teaching establishment hierarchy as well as muddying the names of scholars int he process.
Debate is important but this is not debate this is rounding up those who speak out and proverbially hanging them. Tarnishing their reputation. That is years of work and commitment.
Anyone that is famaliar with Raz’s work will know the passion and research and the publishing of that work.
Scholars debate that is the nature of understanding.
But what you have here is a clear example of a scholar being unjustly targeted because his viewpoint is not pro-israel.
Universities are no longer a place for debate and diverse academia but more an investment entity tied where millions of dollars/pounds are linked to Israeli companies/arm trade.
This is a lesson for us all. Stick to your guns otherwise you become a slave to them. Raz Segal emerges with dignity and respect.