An internal memo from the U.S. State Department staffers has surfaced, criticizing President Joe Biden‘s approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict and voicing a need for a policy shift.
According to a POLITICO report, the memo reflects a significant divide within the U.S. diplomatic corps over the administration’s Middle East policies. It indicates a deepening frustration and a call for the U.S. to reassess its stance toward Israel.
The memo, categorized as “sensitive but unclassified,” outlines U.S. diplomats’ concerns, highlighting the necessity for America to support a ceasefire and to balance its private and public messaging towards Israel. There is a push for the U.S. to openly criticize Israeli military tactics and the treatment of Palestinians, which contrasts with the usual private handling of such concerns.
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The document asserts that the current U.S. approach is damaging its reputation as an unbiased party, stating that it “contributes to regional public perceptions that the United States is a biased and dishonest actor,” thereby harming U.S. interests.
The memo’s authors, identified as midlevel staffers with experience in the Middle East, argue for the U.S. to hold both Israel and Hamas accountable for their actions, emphasizing the high civilian death toll as “unacceptable.”
The State Department has not commented on the leaked document, referring to past statements by spokesperson Matthew Miller who said that Secretary of State Antony Blinken encourages the expression of differing opinions within the department.
The likelihood of immediate policy changes in response to the memo seems slim, as President Biden and top aides have not indicated a willingness to demand a ceasefire, siding with Israel’s strategy against Hamas.
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