Resignation of State Department Official Sparks Debate on US Gaza Policy
Annelle Sheline’s departure from her position within the State Department’s Near Eastern section has drawn attention to the ongoing controversy surrounding US policy towards Gaza. Sheline, disillusioned with what she perceives as the Biden administration’s disregard for US law in its support of Israel, particularly during the Gaza conflict, voiced her concerns. She criticized the administration for allegedly downplaying evidence of Israeli human rights violations and continuing arms supplies to Israel, in apparent violation of laws such as the Leahy laws and section 620(I) of the Foreign Assistance Act.
Sheline’s decision to resign reflects broader discontent within the State Department, with many of her colleagues reportedly expressing similar sentiments. She emphasized her desire to uphold moral principles and her concerns for the future, particularly for her young daughter.
Highlighting the discrepancy between stated policies and actions, Sheline argued that political considerations seem to be driving the administration’s stance, despite shifting public opinion on the matter. She pointed to recent polling indicating a decline in American support for Israel’s actions in Gaza and suggested that this shift influenced the US abstention from a UN Security Council resolution.
However, Sheline expressed skepticism about the impact of such changes in policy, emphasizing the ongoing suffering in Gaza and the potential damage to America’s global reputation. She criticized the administration for prioritizing the US-Israel relationship over human rights and moral leadership, despite earlier promises to prioritize diplomacy and human rights.
editor
Its high time the congress of the US held Biden to account, the hypocrisy of dropping aid from the same aircraft that delivers bombs, missiles, tank shells and bullets to Israel is hypocrisy at its worst degree, Weve seen the disregard of Bidens top security advisor John Kirby has for the UN resolution and the upholding of false often repeated narratives regarding “Israel’s right to self defense”, they dont have that right, that right doesnt exist where a occupying power exerts military and other punitive actions against a country who they have illegally occupied and whose land they are annexing. The discontent with the way Biden is conducting this war and being at odds with the US position as a permanent member of the UN security council is causing fury amongst US citizens whose horror at seeing the carnage in Gaza is growing by the day, Bidens second term as President is seeming to fade as his controversial handling of this crisis falls short of the American people’s expectations and puts the US in a minority in world opinion.