An internal memo reportedly endorsed by more than one hundred personnel from the United States Agency for International Development and the State Department accuses President Joe Biden of “spreading misinformation” about the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The memorandum, which was compiled by a subordinate State Department diplomat who has expressed strong disapproval of Biden’s pro-Israel position on social media, denounces the President’s speech on October 10. In the address, Biden expressed his support for Israel in the wake of Hamas’s fatal attack.
As documented by Axios, the dissent poses a substantial internal challenge to the Biden administration’s management of the circumstance. While the memo fails to explicitly identify the misinformation, it suggests that Biden’s account of events in the Middle East is distorted.
The memo claims, “Yet we have failed to reassess our posture towards Israel,” continuing, “We doubled down on our unwavering military assistance to the (Israeli government) without clear or actionable redlines.”
“Members of the White House and (the National Security Council) displayed a clear disregard for the lives of Palestinians, a documented unwillingness to de-escalate, and, even prior to October 7, a reckless lack of strategic foresight.”
The memorandum urges a reassessment of the United States government’s stance on Israel and advocates for the liberation of captives being held by both Hamas and Israel. Furthermore, Biden’s skepticism regarding the reported death toll in Gaza was met with criticism, and certain individuals affiliated with the White House and National Security Council were accused of disregarding Palestinian lives and failing to possess a strategic perspective.
Diplomats have the opportunity to express their policy disagreements through a dissent channel, which has been acknowledged by the State Department.
The House of Representatives approved a $14.3 billion federal aid package to Israel by a vote of 226 to 196 on November 2. Two Republicans voted against the measure, while twelve Democrats joined the Republicans in voting in favor.
Funding for the package will be reallocated from funds previously designated for the IRS under Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, in accordance with the Republican-proposed legislation. The legislation, according to Republicans, will enable the United States to support Israel while also honoring a campaign pledge made to GOP voters.
“Israel has every right to defend itself from the brutal attacks we have been witnessing over the past month,” Republican Policy Committee Chairman Gary Palmer told Fox News.
The Biden Administration urged Congress to approve a $100 billion aid package, of which $60 million is designated for Ukraine, thereby tying funding for the two countries together. “It is a prudent investment that will yield long-lasting benefits for the security of the United States,” Biden said in a rare Oval Office address where he unveiled the package.
Prior to allocating further financial resources to Ukraine, House Republicans have demanded heightened oversight and a formalized initiative.
Biden has declared that he would veto any standalone funding measure for Israel reach his desk.
