In a shocking move, a senior official at the State Department has resigned over President Biden’s decision to provide material support to Israel in its ongoing conflict with the Hamas terrorist group. Josh Paul, who worked for the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, took to social media to share his resignation letter, citing his disagreement with the US’s continued lethal assistance to Israel.
In his letter, Paul expressed his concerns about the US rushing more arms to one side of the conflict, which he believes to be shortsighted, destructive, unjust, and contradictory to the values the US publicly espouses. While condemning Hamas’ attack on Israel as a “monstrosity of monstrosities,” Paul argued that Israel’s response and the American support for it will only lead to more suffering for both Israelis and Palestinians in the long term.
Paul’s resignation comes at a time when President Biden announced that the US would be supplying weapons and munitions to Israel, emphasizing the US’s unwavering support for Israel’s right to defend itself. This decision follows Hamas’ ruthless assault on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,400 Israelis, marking the deadliest terror attack in the country’s history.
Reflecting on his time at the State Department, Paul acknowledged the moral complexity and compromises involved in arms transfers, but stated that he reached the end of his commitment to the job due to the US’s current course of providing lethal arms to Israel. He emphasized the contradiction in supporting both freedom and occupation, and contributing to a world that is materially worse.
In his resignation statement, Paul criticized the Biden administration’s and Congress’ impulsive reaction to the conflict, attributing it to confirmation bias, political convenience, intellectual bankruptcy, and bureaucratic inertia. He called for a new approach, highlighting the failure of the security-for-peace strategy over decades.
President Biden’s stance on the conflict includes full support for Israel while ensuring aid is delivered to civilians caught in the crossfire. He recently announced $100 million in humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, with the condition that it doesn’t fall into the hands of Hamas.
Josh Paul had been working at the State Department since April 2012, according to his LinkedIn profile. His resignation raises questions about the US’s role as a third party in the conflict and brings attention to the ongoing debate surrounding US support for Israel and its impact on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how this resignation will impact US policy towards Israel and the broader Middle East region.
