'Josh Paul, veteran State Department official, resigns after Biden supports US military aid to Israel in Hamas conflict - Russia News Now'

A State Department official resigned after Biden pledged $100 billion in aid to Israel, expressing disapproval over US military support.

A long-serving official from the State Department, Josh Paul, has resigned from his position following President Joe Biden's reaffirmation of America's support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas. Paul, who had worked in the bureau overseeing arms transfers for over a decade, expressed his disapproval of the level of military assistance provided to Israel, leading to his resignation. He shared a two-page resignation letter on LinkedIn, citing a "policy disagreement" regarding the continued provision of lethal arms to Israel. This announcement coincided with President Biden's visit to Israel, during which he pledged a substantial $100 billion aid package.

In his resignation letter, Paul highlighted his belief that the current course of action, including the rush to provide more arms to one side of the conflict, was shortsighted, destructive, and contradictory to the values that the United States publicly espouses. He acknowledged the recent terrorist attack in Israel as a heinous act but argued that continuing to support Israel's actions would result in further suffering for both Israelis and Palestinians and would not serve the long-term interests of the United States.

Paul criticized the current administration's response, along with much of Congress, as being influenced by confirmation bias, political convenience, intellectual stagnation, and bureaucratic inertia. He emphasized the need for third parties, like himself, to support the people caught in the middle of the conflict and work towards a better world. Paul also used terms such as "ethnic cleansing," "occupation," and "apartheid" to describe the situation in Israel.

While his resignation received support from many within the State Department, it also sparked a range of responses, with some praising his decision and others criticizing his stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The resignation letter caused backlash, with some commentators expressing disagreement with Paul's views.

The Biden administration is preparing to send a $100 billion spending package to lawmakers, which will include funds to bolster Israel and Ukraine. The package will also allocate money to cities like New York and Chicago, which are experiencing the effects of the immigration crisis. The administration's decision to include both border money and policy provisions may face criticism from Senate Republicans, who play a crucial role in the passage of such legislation.

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