Veteran State Department official, Hala Rharrit, resigns in protest against the Biden administration's Gaza policy. (Shutterstock)
Share
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
In a recent interview with NPR’s All Things Considered host Mary Louise Kelly, Hala Rharrit, a veteran Arabic-speaking public affairs official with the State Department, announced her resignation in protest of the Biden administration’s approach to the conflict in Gaza.
Rharrit, who served for 18 years and held the position of deputy director of the Dubai media hub, becomes the third public resignation within the department over this issue.
Rharrit explained that her decision to resign was a culmination of ongoing dissatisfaction with U.S. policy in Gaza. She expressed concerns about how the policy was undermining American interests, destabilizing the Middle East, and failing to uphold principles such as human rights and press freedom.
Related Story: Biden Says ‘Order Must Prevail’ on Campuses, but He Won’t ...
Forced to Follow the Status Quo
According to Rharrit, attempts to voice dissent through official channels were met with resistance and shunning, ultimately leading to her resignation.
Rharrit said in the interview, “I can only tell you about what I’ve experienced, right? But it’s a very strange time in the State Department, I would say. Something that I’ve never experienced before in my 18 years of service, where people are just extremely uneasy about our policy and also extremely uneasy about the ability to speak about our policy internally.”
During the interview, Rharrit highlighted the need for a shift away from violence and unconditional military support, advocating instead for diplomacy and leveraging U.S. influence to promote a two-state solution in the region.
She urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to reconsider the current approach, emphasizing the long-term consequences of continued conflict in Gaza.
Related Story: Fresno State Shows the Nation How a Peaceful Palestinian Protest is Done
Rharrit’s resignation and outspoken critique underscore a growing internal discontent within the State Department regarding U.S. policies in the Middle East.
Her call for a more diplomatic strategy reflects broader concerns among diplomats and foreign service officers about the effectiveness and ethical implications of U.S. actions in the region.
To hear the interview, visit NPR.
RELATED TOPICS:
Trump Says He Will Order Voter ID Requirement for Every Vote
16 hours ago
Greta Thunberg Joins Flotilla Heading for Gaza With Aid
16 hours ago
Chicago Mayor Says Police Will Not Aid Federal Troops or Agents
16 hours ago
Post-War Gaza Plan Sees Relocation of Population, ‘Digital Token’ for Palestinian Land: Washington Post
16 hours ago
Labor Day Quiz: Do You Know What a Knocker-Upper Is?
17 hours ago
Judge Blocks Pillar of Trump’s Mass Deportation Campaign
2 days ago
Visalia Driver Arrested for DUI After Multiple Crashes and Pedestrian Injured
2 days ago
Fresno County Garnet Fire Grows to 18,748 Acres in Sierra National Forest
16 hours ago
Categories

Fresno County Garnet Fire Grows to 18,748 Acres in Sierra National Forest

Israel Pounds Gaza City Suburbs, Netanyahu to Convene Security Cabinet

Trump Says He Will Order Voter ID Requirement for Every Vote

Greta Thunberg Joins Flotilla Heading for Gaza With Aid

Chicago Mayor Says Police Will Not Aid Federal Troops or Agents

Post-War Gaza Plan Sees Relocation of Population, ‘Digital Token’ for Palestinian Land: Washington Post
