In recent weeks, Harvard University has dismissed the leadership of its Center for Middle Eastern Studies, citing allegations of ‘anti-Israel’ bias. This decision follows other actions taken by major educational institutions, including the termination of a Yale scholar over alleged links to a terrorist organization and claims of a ‘refusal to cooperate’ with the investigation. The pressure from political figures, including Trump, has prompted both Yale and Harvard to re-evaluate their staff amid scrutiny over viewpoint diversity and university affiliations. The academic community is grappling with the implications of these dismissals and their potential impact on scholarly discourse related to Middle Eastern studies.