David Kazanjian, a professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), has garnered attention for his extremist views and controversial affiliations. He has demonized Jews, supported disgraced former professor Steven Salaita, and signed petitions associated with extremist organizations associated with supporters of Hamas.
David Kazanjian Demonizes Jews
In 2014, Kazanjian signed an open letter addressed to Jewish academics from abroad during Operation Protective Edge (OPE). The letter accused the claimed:
“The Jewish homeland, having provoked the firing of rockets by its rampage through the West Bank, is now using that response as the pretext for an aerial assault on Gaza which has already cost scores of lives.”
The letter further alleged:
“An atmosphere of hysteria is being deliberately provoked by Jews, and whole communities are being subject to collective punishment, a war crime.”
Operation Protective Edge, launched in 2014, was a military campaign aimed at stopping Hamas rocket fire and destroying its attack tunnels. Despite these aims, Kazanjian and others attributed the escalation of violence to Israel’s actions, framing the conflict as disproportionate and unjust.
Defending Steven Salaita
Kazanjian was an ardent defender of Steven Salaita, whose appointment at the University of Illinois was rescinded in 2014 following anti-Semitic tweets. Kazanjian signed multiple petitions advocating for Salaita, including one titled:
“A Call to People of Conscience Not to Speak at the University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Until Chancellor Wise Honor [sic] the Contract to Hire Professor Steven Salaita.”
The petitions emphasized solidarity with Salaita, who had posted inflammatory remarks such as:
“You may be too refined to say it, but I’m not: I wish all the f**king West Bank settlers would go missing.”
Salaita later stated:
“I would not…I will die unapologetic.”
Kazanjian also signed the #StudentsforSalaita petition, continuing to align himself with Salaita despite the controversy surrounding his rhetoric.
Advocacy Through Petitions
Kazanjian has signed multiple petitions that accuse the world’s biggest Jewish community of systemic human rights violations. In 2009, he added his name to a letter accusing them of “racism, colonialism and apartheid” and condemning its alleged denial of the “right of return” for Palestinian refugees. The letter stated:
“Israel acts in flagrant violation of international law and UN resolutions and does so with impunity.”
Another petition signed by Kazanjian in 2015 called for the Modern Language Association (MLA) to endorse BDS and accused Israel of committing war crimes, detentions without trial, and the use of deadly force against peaceful protesters.
Academic Role and Background
As of 2024, David Kazanjian is a professor at UPenn, where his focus includes English and Comparative Literature. His advocacy positions and controversial stances have positioned him as a polarizing figure on campus and in academic circles.
