Leon Cooperman: Israel is our only ally in the Middle East
Donated KRW 67.5 billion to Columbia University, his alma mater… disinvestment
A hate crime incident occurred on campus… President: “Be careful what you say”
Leon Cooperman, a billionaire investor and CEO of American investment advisory firm Omega Advisors, announced that he would stop investing in universities, criticizing Ivy League students who share anti-Israel sentiments on campus.
According to Fox Business on the 26th (local time), Leon Cooperman, a graduate of Columbia University, appeared on ‘Klarman Countdown’ hosted by Fox Business Network (FBN) anchor, showing that anti-Israel sentiment is spreading among Ivy League college students. He poured out abusive criticism, saying, “There is something strange in these students’ heads.”
He said, “We have a reliable ally in the Middle East. It is Israel. There is only one democratic country in the Middle East. It is Israel. Israel is an economic country that is tolerant of diverse people, including sexual minorities. “But I don’t know what these young students are doing.”
Cooperman emphasized his stance that he would no longer donate to the Ivy League school, raising the issue of faculty members failing to condemn terrorist acts by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. On the 8th, a professor at Columbia University described Hamas’ attack on Israel as “the resistance of the Palestinian natives to the colonial army.”
“I told the university that this professor should be fired,” Cooperman said. “War is hell. “This war is not good for anyone.” He added: “It is shameful to praise what Hamas has done.”
“What’s really shameful is that we donated about $50 million (about 67.5 billion won) to Columbia University over the years,” he said. “I will stop donating to universities and donate to other organizations,” he said, announcing his intention to withdraw his investment.
The conflict between Israel and Palestine has had a significant impact on Columbia University students. According to the New York Post on the 11th, Maxwell Friedman (19) attacked a 24-year-old Israeli student with a stick outside the Columbia University library. Friedman was arrested and charged with second-degree and third-degree assault. The two reportedly argued over leaflets containing the names and photos of Israeli hostages.
The next day, on the 12th, hundreds of students gathered at the university and held rallies in support of Palestine and Israel.
“Unfortunately, some people are using this moment to spread anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, prejudice against Palestine and Israel, and other forms of hatred,” Columbia University President Minouche Shafik said of the conflict between factions at the university. “We are using it for this purpose,” he said on the 18th.
“Especially during these times of pain and anger, we must avoid comments that criticize, threaten or prejudice entire groups,” he added. Shafik asserted that “speech that is illegal or violates university regulations will not be tolerated.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.