Former State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus warns of Hezbollah’s increasing threat to Israel, while the Biden administration faces mounting criticism over its Israel policy. In response, the White House plans to throw a “morale booster” party for hundreds of staffers to celebrate their work and boost morale heading into what could be Biden’s final year in office.
The party plans come amidst a wave of discontent within the administration, with one senior Biden education official resigning in protest of the administration’s policy on the war between Israel and Hamas. Additionally, a group of anonymous Biden campaign staffers recently issued a letter expressing their discontent with the administration’s approach to the war.
The party invite was emailed to staffers, specifying that it would be held at a private venue in Northern Virginia later this month. While the event is exclusively for official staff rather than campaign workers, it highlights the growing dissent among administration officials regarding Biden’s Israel policy.
Tariq Habash, a special assistant in the Education Department’s Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development, voiced his concerns in a resignation letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. Habash criticized the administration’s response to the conflict, describing it as a “genocidal campaign by the Israeli government” and urging Biden to publicly call for a cessation of violence.
Similarly, the group of 17 Biden campaign staffers expressed their opposition to the administration’s handling of the war, arguing that the deaths of Palestinians “cannot be justified.” They emphasized the importance of upholding values such as justice, empathy, and the dignity of human life, and warned that the administration’s response to the conflict could impact the 2024 election.
This discontent within the Biden administration is not new, as previous instances have shown opposition to the president’s handling of the war. In November, 400 government officials from various departments and agencies signed a letter opposing Biden’s approach and calling for a cease-fire. A leaked internal State Department memo also revealed staffers urging a change in the administration’s public stance towards Israel.
Digital has reached out to the White House for comment, but no response has been received at the time of writing.
In conclusion, the Biden administration faces growing dissatisfaction over its Israel policy, with resignations, anonymous letters, and internal opposition. As the White House plans a “morale booster” party, it remains to be seen how these internal conflicts will impact the administration’s approach to the war and its political future.
