Story perspectives

Epstein's Campaign Silences Scholars on Pro-Israel Lobbying

11/26/2025

Summary

Story summary

In 2006, the Harvard Kennedy School published a controversial paper by John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt (Harvard Kennedy School professor) on pro-Israel lobbying.
Jeffrey Epstein and Alan Dershowitz orchestrated a campaign to discredit authors.
Epstein, a Harvard donor, circulated allegations of antisemitism against Mearsheimer and Walt.
The effort led to canceled speaking engagements and a chilling effect on academic discourse.
Mearsheimer has found a new audience on independent media platforms.

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Story summary

In 2006, the Harvard Kennedy School published a controversial paper by John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt (Harvard Kennedy School professor) on pro-Israel lobbying.
Jeffrey Epstein and Alan Dershowitz orchestrated a campaign to discredit authors.
Epstein, a Harvard donor, circulated allegations of antisemitism against Mearsheimer and Walt.
The effort led to canceled speaking engagements and a chilling effect on academic discourse.
Mearsheimer has found a new audience on independent media platforms.