The American Historical Association’s executive council vetoed resolutions critical of Israel, including one that accused Israel of ‘scholasticide’ in Gaza, citing institutional risk. The council’s decision sparked protests from faculty members and advocacy groups who argued the resolutions addressed academic freedom, research conditions and the safety of scholars in conflict zones. The episode highlights intensifying tensions within academic associations over Middle East policy, campus speech, and the boundaries of disciplinary statements—pressures that governance bodies and university leaders must navigate amid external political scrutiny and donor concerns.