A senior official in the US Department of State responsible for weapons transfers has resigned in protest, criticizing Washington’s haste in arming Israel as “shortsighted, destructive, unjust, and contradictory to the very values that we publicly espouse.” Josh Paul, who led the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM) for over 11 years, revealed his resignation letter on his LinkedIn profile. The Huffington Post broke the news on the same day.
Paul acknowledged the moral complexities and compromises that came with his role but aimed to strike a balance between the potential harm and good he could achieve. However, he stated that providing lethal arms to Israel, especially in an expedited manner, pushed him past that threshold, leading to his resignation.
In his letter, Paul argued that the US was repeating historical mistakes characterized by impulsive reactions, confirmation bias, political convenience, intellectual bankruptcy, and bureaucratic inertia. He drew on his academic experience and official work with Israel and the Palestinian Authority to assert that his personal ties to both sides of the conflict enabled him to see the biased approach that overlooks wrongdoing committed by the US’s partner.
Paul condemned violence against civilians, regardless of whether they were attending a rave or working in their olive groves. He also criticized the kidnapping of children, whether from a kibbutz or a village, emphasizing that collective punishment, ethnic cleansing, occupation, and apartheid are obstacles to building a better world.
The region witnessed escalated violence after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, resulting in numerous casualties and hostages. Paul described this raid as an abhorrent act in his letter. In response, Israel intensified its blockade of Gaza and subjected it to intense bombardment, vowing to “obliterate” Hamas.
Coincidentally, US President Joe Biden visited Israel on the same day Paul tendered his resignation letter. During his visit, Biden pledged to request additional aid from Congress to meet Israel’s military needs, seeking $10 billion in emergency spending this week.
Paul’s resignation sheds light on the division within the US government regarding its policies towards Israel. While some support providing military assistance, others, like Paul, are concerned about the consequences of such actions. This raises questions about the impact of US-Israel relations and the alignment of American values with its foreign policy decisions.
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As a senior official in the US Department of State responsible for weapons transfers, Josh Paul has resigned in protest, criticizing the US rush to arm Israel as “shortsighted, destructive, unjust, and contradictory to the very values that we publicly espouse.” Paul, who led the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs for over 11 years, published his resignation letter on his LinkedIn profile, with the Huffington Post being the first major news outlet to report on it.
In his letter, Paul acknowledges the moral complexity and compromises that come with his role but aims to do more good than harm. However, he believes that the continued provision of lethal arms to Israel, and the expedited manner in which it is being done, has pushed him past that threshold. Paul argues that this approach is repeating historical mistakes characterized by impulsiveness, confirmation bias, political convenience, intellectual bankruptcy, and bureaucratic inertia.
Drawing on his academic experience and official work with Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Paul asserts that he has deep personal ties to both sides of the conflict. This perspective allows him to see the biased approach that overlooks wrongdoing committed by the US’s partnered party. He condemns violence against civilians, regardless of the circumstances, and criticizes collective punishment, ethnic cleansing, occupation, and apartheid as obstacles to building a better world.
The region recently experienced escalated violence following a surprise attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on southern Israel, resulting in numerous casualties and hostages. Paul describes this raid as an abhorrent act of violence. In response, Israel intensified its blockade of Gaza and subjected it to intense bombardment, vowing to “obliterate” Hamas.
Interestingly, President Joe Biden visited Israel on the same day that Paul resigned. During his visit, Biden pledged to request additional aid from Congress to meet Israel’s military needs, seeking $10 billion in emergency spending this week. This visit further highlights the divided opinions within the US government concerning its policies towards Israel.
Paul’s resignation raises important questions about the impact of US-Israel relations and the alignment of American values with its foreign policy decisions. The division within the US government regarding its rush to arm Israel reflects the internal debates and differing perspectives on the consequences of such actions.
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