The outspoken Columbia professor. Shai Davidai banned from campus

Outspoken Columbia economics professor Shai Davidai was banned from campus after he clashed with vocal anti-Israel protesters and confronted school officials last week during the first anniversary of Hamas' deadly Oct. 7 attack on the Jewish state.

The Ivy League school sent a letter to Davidai's attorney saying that the professor's access to school grounds was blocked at 3 p.m. Tuesday because Columbia officials claimed he had at least five faculty members during the violent scene harassed and thereby violated school rules.

“Threats of intimidation, harassment or other threatening behavior by university employees, including faculty members, will not be tolerated,” the school said in the letter, which Davidai provided to the Post.

The Israeli native, who is conducting research and not teaching this semester, will not be suspended and can return to campus after he completes workplace conduct training and adheres to school policy, Columbia said in its letter.

The school said he could continue to advise students remotely.

University officials cited videos recorded by Davidai and posted on social media in which he urged school leaders to unsuccessfully contain vocal anti-Israel protesters as he confronted some students dressed in keffiyeh.

In one video, he and Patrick Oakley, a senior public safety officer at the school, walked back and forth, with Davidai appearing to grab Oakley's badge around his neck to get a better look.

“You blocked my movement and you’re not doing anything,” Davidai said of the protesters, while Oakley insisted: “No, you’re running into them.”

“You do not ensure the safety of the Jews,” Davidai replied.

Davidai, who has taught at Columbia for five years, told The Post on Tuesday night that the school's action was “nothing more than retaliation.”

“It broke me,” he admitted. “It shows how petty people run Columbia.”

He said allegations that he harassed or intimidated school officials were “crazy,” while arguing that the Ivy League school did not apply the same discipline to anti-Israel students and faculty who advocate violence against the Jewish state.

“This is hypocrisy to the highest degree,” he said.

“There are professors who either attended the camp or taught there,” he said. “Not a single professor has been fired or suspended since October 7 for anti-Semitism and supporting terrorism.”

This includes controversial professor Joseph Massad, who described the October 7 massacre as “magnificent” the following day.

“He was never suspended from anything,” Davidai said.

Davidai also criticized the school in a social media video, directing most of his ire at Columbia's chief operating officer Cas Holloway, who he said could “go fuck himself.”

He said he was supposed to be on campus Tuesday for an Oct. 7 memorial organized by Jewish students before his lawyer informed him of the school ban.

“It is shocking that after everything that has happened, including the resignation of its president, Columbia University's leadership continues to silence and punish its Jewish and Israeli community members while protecting pro-terror groups,” said Davidai's attorney Mark Lerner told The Post.

The school has faced much unrest over the past year, including anti-Israel protesters occupying a school building and setting up camp on campus grounds.

Former President Minouche Shafik suddenly resigned in the summer.

Admittedly an outspoken collaborator, Davidai criticized the school for not doing more to protect Jewish students during anti-Israel demonstrations.

“I feel broken,” he said on Tuesday, but stressed: “I will not stop the fight – because it is not about me.”

“I am not a provocateur. My aim is not to provoke or provoke a reaction – it is to initiate change,” he added.