More US officials to resign over Biden's 'failed Israel policy'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Politico
8 May 2024 09:44
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Former US officials who had previously resigned due to the government's "Israel" policy expect resignations to increase amid the Israeli invasion of Rafah.

President Joe Biden listens as he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participate in an expanded bilateral meeting with Israeli and US government officials, Wednesday, October 18, 2023, in Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine. (AP)

The United States government expects to witness more official resignations due to the administration's "Israel" policy, Politico reported, citing four former officials.

“I have seen a clear uptick in non-public resignations in the past few weeks, and would not be surprised to see more follow a sham report,” said former State Department official Josh Paul, who had been responsible for supplying US allies with weapons until his resignation in November.

This comes amid the Biden administration's failure to issue a report detailing "Israel's" war crimes and international law violations in Gaza, which was due Wednesday. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated earlier that the report would not meet its due date but failed to provide a reason why.

“We are trying very hard to meet that deadline … It’s possible it slips just a little bit, but we are trying to get it done by tomorrow,” Miller said.

Public and non-public resignations also came and are expected to increase because the United States did not stop the Israeli invasion of Rafah. The former US officials explained that the Rafah invasion shows that Benjamin Netanyahu does not respect Joe Biden's imposed "red lines", which would in turn prompt contemplations among US officials regarding the extent of the government's influence on "Israel", NatSec Daily relayed.

'We have no ground to stand on anymore'

Hala Rharrit, who had been a foreign service officer for more than 18 years, and resigned just last month, said "We have no ground to stand on anymore," adding that the US' efforts to stop the Israeli war on Gaza were a "failed policy".

Tariq Habash, a former policy advisor who resigned in January, further stated that anonymous letters urging Biden to shift his "Israel" policy "were not enough anymore", and called on other officials to resign, whether publicly or not.

Politico emphasized that Biden would not respond to internal disapproval of his policy regarding the Israeli occupation's war on Gaza or continued military aid to "Israel". However, Politico's Joseph Gedeon received a letter signed by 185 lawmakers, including 27 US officials currently in the State, urging top administration officials to declare military aid to "Israel" as illegal, due to the occupation's international law violations in the Strip.

Lawmakers, according to Josh Paul, might propose laws to prevent the transfer of arms, requesting clarification and proof from the administration, or seeking to initiate the compliance determination process once more.

Democrats' growing opposition

On Saturday, Democrat lawmakers in the United States House of Representatives urged Biden to consider halting arms sales to the Israeli regime if it does not change its approach to its war on the Gaza Strip.

88 Democratic members of Congress signed and delivered a letter to the White House, stating that Washington should take a firmer stance toward its Israeli ally. The lawmakers expressed "serious concerns regarding the Israeli government's conduct of the war in Gaza as it pertains to the deliberate withholding of humanitarian aid."

Highlighting the Israeli occupation's restriction on US-backed humanitarian aid delivery to the Gaza Strip, members of Congress said that the policy has "contributed to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe."

They also urged Biden to make it clear to the head of the Israeli regime, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, that placing any hurdles in front of aid delivery to Gaza risks Israeli occupation forces' "eligibility for further offensive security assistance from the United States."

Months after Biden pledged "unwavering" support for "Israel" in October 2023, Americans are now taking significant steps against their government's backing of the Israeli regime. This dissent is evident in widespread student protests that have swept through dozens of American universities. While the protesters' demands have yet to be fully embraced by US officials, this recent letter to Biden underscores growing dissatisfaction among Democrats.