The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and the University of California, Berkeley have reached a settlement regarding discrimination claims made by Israeli researcher Dr. Yael Nativ against the university.
According to the announcement, UC Berkeley’s own investigation in 2024 determined that discrimination had taken place, but steps to address the harm were not implemented before the Brandeis Center filed a lawsuit on Dr. Nativ’s behalf.
The lawsuit alleged that Dr. Nativ was denied an opportunity to teach at UC Berkeley due to her Israeli nationality. This complaint was substantiated by UC Berkeley’s Office for the Prevention of Harassment & Discrimination (OPHD). The university has now publicly acknowledged that this violated its anti-discrimination policy and has committed to enforce these policies more rigorously moving forward.
UC Berkeley will continue strict enforcement of its Anti-Discrimination Policy, which prohibits discrimination based on national origin or citizenship, including Israeli nationality. The university stated it would “respond promptly and equitably to reports” of prohibited conduct as defined in that policy, including taking “appropriate action to stop, prevent, and remedy the Prohibited Conduct and, when appropriate, to impose corrective action/disciplinary measures.”
As part of the agreement, Chancellor Rich Lyons will issue a personal apology to Dr. Nativ on behalf of UC Berkeley. Dr. Nativ will also receive $60,000 in damages; she plans to donate part of this amount to charity. Additionally, UC Berkeley will invite Dr. Nativ back as an instructor for the course she was previously prevented from teaching—a course she had taught successfully during an earlier semester at the university.
The university noted that there were no concerns about Dr. Nativ’s teaching abilities and expressed appreciation for her willingness to return despite what occurred.
Chancellor Rich Lyons stated: “I respect and appreciate Dr. Nativ’s decision to settle this case. She is owed the apology I will provide on behalf of our campus. We look forward to welcoming Dr. Nativ back to Berkeley to teach again.”
