The ceasefire calls are coming from inside the White House
Biden faces blowback for Israel-Hamas war stance from his own administration
![Biden banner in Jerusalem](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v7RAFAZnY2sWQDqEkWtzXG-415-80.jpg)
It's been nearly two weeks since Hamas militants murdered hundreds of Israelis across southern Israel, before retreating with an estimated two hundred hostages in tow. Israel, caught largely by surprise by the scale and ferocity of Hamas' attack, has in turn spent days bombarding the densely packed Gaza strip ahead of a planned ground invasion that will almost certainly eclipse the thousands already killed by Israel's expansive aerial assault.
Throughout this conflict, President Biden has emphatically backed Israel, vowing that "as long as the United States stands — and we will stand forever — we will not let you ever be alone." Although he has tempered that support with pledges of $100 million in "humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank," and calls for Israel not to be "consumed" by rage, Biden's public commitments to Israel, including a congressional request for $100 billion in emergency armament funds have rankled progressives calling for negotiations to end the violence rather than unilateral backing for one nation over another.
Urging her colleagues to "do everything we can to save lives," Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) this week introduced a resolution demanding an "immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Israel and Palestine," while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) used similar language in a statement highlighting actions "urgently needed to save lives." While congressional disapproval of administration stances is nothing new, the Biden White House is facing congruent pushback from a less expected source, as well: Members of its own administration.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"There's basically a mutiny brewing"
Citing a "disagreement concerning our continued lethal assistance to Israel," longtime State Department official Josh Paul has been the highest profile administration member to come out against the Biden White House's Israel stance, writing in a resignation letter to his colleagues shared on his Linkedin page that "in our current course with regards to the continued – indeed, expanded and expedited – provision of lethal arms" to Israel he had "reached the end" of his belief that the benefits outweighed the harms of his work managing international arms sales from the U.S. While he'd felt he could affect dubious trades for the better in previous instances, "there’s no questioning on this one," Paul told The Washington Post. "There’s no space for substantive dissent within the system on this one."
Moreover, Paul said, he's not alone at the State Department. Speaking with HuffPost, Paul claimed a number of his former colleagues have come to him saying "we absolutely understand where you’re coming from, we feel similarly and understand."
"There’s basically a mutiny brewing within State at all levels," one Department official told the outlet, adding that Secretary Antony Blinken was largely ignoring the internal strife. To that end, department diplomats are reportedly drafting what's known as a "dissent cable" — a "document criticizing American policy that goes to the agency’s leaders through a protected internal channel" and which have been seen as "consequential statements of serious disagreement at key historical moments."
That sense of serious disagreement has permeated corners of the White House itself, where "some Muslim, Arab and Palestinian Americans who work in the Biden administration are feeling like their grief is not being taken into similar consideration" as their Jewish colleagues, Politico reported. "It’s personally frustrating to me to see Biden go to Israel and give weapons which are basically being used to slaughter Gazans," one Arab American administration official said, describing "a muzzle on any criticism of Israel." Another official pushed back on the assertion that the White House was unresponsive to its internal discord, telling Politico that "a lot of effort was going into making sure the administration’s messaging was inclusive of Jewish, Muslim, Arab and Palestinian Americans."
"The traditional unwavering support for Israel is untenable"
In part, the intra-administration strife may be as much a generational issue as it is an ideological one. "There’s a fairly strong sense among the mid-level officers that the traditional unwavering support for Israel is untenable," a former U.S. ambassador told Vanity Fair, contrasting the pushback to more entrenched attitudes at State. Instead, "this is based more on a generational change, and a more woke set of FSOs" who are "unhappy with current policy just as they’re unhappy with the still-unreformed personnel policies" at the Department.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.
-
Canada is facing an uphill battle against car theft
Under the Radar More than 200 stolen vehicles from Canada are detected every week
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
7 snowy places around the world to escape a hot American summer
The Week Recommends It's a winter wonderland in the Southern Hemisphere
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
When is pet insurance worth it?
The Explainer Decide if it makes more sense to brace for big vet bills or pay a regular premium
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Iran: does Masoud Pezeshkian's election mark a turning point?
Talking Point New president is seen as a progressive but much will depend on how the US reacts
By The Week UK Published
-
Houthis claim drone attack on Tel Aviv
Speed Read The attack on the Israeli city killed one person and injured at least 10
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
'Although we can't eliminate political violence, we can minimize it'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Pelosi and Obama add to doubts over Biden
Speed Read Both Democrats think the president should reconsider his reelection campaign, insiders say
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Was Teamster boss' RNC speech a watershed moment for unions or betrayal of labor?
In The Spotlight Sean O'Brien pushed bipartisanship at one of the most partisan events of the year, but not everyone is on board with his unexpected political outreach
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Is this capitalism anymore?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Biden tests positive for Covid in fresh blow to campaign
Speed Read The president said he would consider dropping out of the race if presented with a "medical condition"
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
US military declares end to Gaza pier aid mission
Speed Read The temporary pier mission was troubled by weather and mechanical malfunctions
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published