Cancer Researcher Dr. Keren Assayag Reveals Backlash for Right-Wing Views in Academia

Dr. Keren Assayag, a respected cancer researcher, shared in a personal interview with Noa Dromi on i24NEWS the challenges she faced in academia after openly expressing her right-wing political views. According to Assayag, her disclosure marked a turning point in how colleagues treated her, leading to social ostracism, disdain, and humiliation within academic circles. She described experiencing exclusion and harsh reactions, including being derogatorily nicknamed "Dr. Mengele," reflecting the severity of the backlash.

Assayag also highlighted that many academics with differing political opinions remain silent out of fear, indicating a broader atmosphere of intolerance toward right-wing perspectives in her environment. She emphasized that the price she paid was directly linked to expressing views that diverged from the prevailing consensus in her professional community.

Beyond her professional struggles, the interview offered insight into her personal life, including her relationship with her well-known uncles, Meni Assayag and Shalom Assayag. Her testimony sheds light on the intersection of politics and social dynamics within Israeli academia and the personal costs of political openness.