Columbia University Dean at Center of Deportation Scandal Has Israeli Military Intelligence Ties
New York (Quds News Network)- A Columbia University professor linked to the deportation of a pro-Palestine student is a former Israeli military intelligence officer, according to MintPress News.
Dr. Keren Yarhi-Milo, dean of Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), previously served as an intelligence officer in the Israeli army. She also worked at Israel’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations before entering academia.
Her past has come under scrutiny after the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student activist. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) abducted Khalil for organizing protests against Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Yarhi-Milo played a key role in justifying the crackdown on pro-Palestine demonstrations at Columbia.
According to MintPress News, Yarhi-Milo helped spread claims of a “wave of antisemitism” on campus. This fueled an aggressive response against student protests, leading to mass arrests and threats to academic freedom.
Before her academic career, she specialized in Arabic-language operations for Israeli intelligence. Reports suggest her work may have included monitoring Arab students. After leaving intelligence, she joined Israel’s UN mission in New York, where she met her husband, Israel’s official UN spokesperson.
Last week, Yarhi-Milo invited former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to speak at Columbia. Student protests erupted, and the university condemned demonstrators for allegedly harassing her.
Columbia is also facing pressure from pro-Israel billionaire donors. Robert Kraft, a major university benefactor, threatened to cut funding over its handling of the protests. Hedge fund manager Leon Cooperman called for stricter measures, saying Columbia must “control its crazy students.”
