Arizona State University is currently investigating postdoctoral research scholar Jonathan Yudelman after a confrontation he had with a woman in a hijab during a pro-Israel rally near campus. In a viral video, Yudelman and another man can be seen facing off with the woman, with Yudelman advancing aggressively towards her and making disrespectful remarks. The Council on American-Islamic Relations has condemned the incident and called for Yudelman’s arrest, stating that his behavior goes against principles of academic integrity and respect for diversity.
The university has responded to the video and criticism of Yudelman by placing him on leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Yudelman has not responded to requests for comment on the incident. In an interview before the confrontation, Yudelman described pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses as supporters of terrorism and talked about Jewish students being intimidated. A campus rabbi who advises students at the pro-Israel rally has not commented on the incident.
Yudelman is a scholar at ASU’s School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership, as well as an assistant professor of political theory at the University of Austin in Texas. He has held postdoctoral positions at Princeton, Harvard, and Baylor, focusing his research on early modern political theory, the idea of progress, sources of political authority, and the intersection of politics and religion. Yudelman is also affiliated with the Tikvah Fund, a nonprofit organization in New York City that promotes Jewish ideas.
Around 100 people attended the pro-Israel rally on Sunday, which aimed to make a statement for the community in response to global protests critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza. One person not affiliated with the school was arrested during a pro-Palestine rally the weekend prior for spray-painting university property. The incident involving Yudelman and the woman in the hijab has raised concerns about academic integrity and respect for diversity within the university community. Arizona State University is working to address the situation and ensure that appropriate actions are taken based on the outcome of their investigation.
