Professor Ted Rosenberg, a family medicine professor for 30 years at the University of British Columbia (UBC), resigned from his position, attributing his decision to what he described as an anti-Semitic climate within the faculty where he teaches.

In the resignation letter addressed to Dr. Dermot Kelleher, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Rosenberg criticized the university's inaction which, according to him, ignored concerns raised after students in the faculty launched a petition titled "Call to Action for Gaza."

The petition, according to Rosenberg, included language that dehumanized Jews and Israelis.

The university professor also expressed regret in his resignation letter over the emergence of a "toxic work environment" in the faculty resulting from polarization and politicization related to the conflict in the Middle East.

"Unfortunately, I have no confidence in due legal procedures in a faculty that does not even acknowledge the presence of anti-Semitism (hatred of Jews) or my right to work in a depoliticized environment," Rosenberg added.

University of British Columbia spokesperson Kurt Heinrich said in a written statement that the Faculty of Medicine and the university are "very clear that anti-Semitism, or discrimination of any kind, is absolutely unacceptable."

"In response to concerns raised by faculty members and students, the Faculty of Medicine is also appropriately working to develop educational opportunities for inclusive education and respectful dialogue within the faculty in areas that directly reflect our declared values, including how to address issues such as discrimination, harassment, and hate speech," Heinrich said.