A top, long-time U.S. State Department official resigned this week in protest of the Biden administration's policy on the Israel-Gaza war and its "impulsive reaction built on confirmation bias, political convenience, intellectual bankruptcy and bureaucratic inertia."
According to US media reports, Josh Paul, who worked for the State Department office that approves arms transfers, posted a resignation letter on LinkedIn decrying both the Hamas attack as well as potential escalation by Hezbollah or Iran.
"But I believe to the core of my soul that the response Israel is taking, and with it the American support both for that response and for the status quo of the occupation, will only lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people — and is not in the long-term American interest," he wrote.
"Blind support for one side is destructive in the long term to the interests of the people on both sides," he continued, adding "I fear we are repeating the same mistakes we have made these past decades and I decline to be a part of it for longer."
Who is Josh Paul?
Currently - and for the last decade - Director of Congressional & Public Affairs, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, U.S. Department of State, with responsibility for shaping and implementing an holistic communications strategy in support of U.S. security assistance, arms transfers, and global defense partnerships. Previously - consultant for the US & UK governments in Iraq & Palestine on institutional development and security sector governance; Hill alum (Steve Israel, D-NY); stints in Army Staff (G8) & OSD Policy (ME). Passionate about policy, snowboarding, my dog, and my daughter, likely in increasing order of importance.
