Professor Fired For Anti-Israel Tweets Gets $600K

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has agreed to pay $600,000 to Steven Salaita, a professor who had his job offer at the university revoked when he tweeted statements against Israel during the country’s war with Hamas last summer. Salaita said those defending Israel were “hopelessly brainwashed,” or “awful human beings.” Free-speech activists spoke out against the university’s actions, and in response the school has agreed to pay Salaita $600,000 in addition to $275,000 in legal fees, but will admit no wrong-doing and will not re-offer Salaita a position.