Hala Rharrit, a veteran diplomat with a career spanning 18 years, always spoke passionately about American values such as human rights and freedom of the press.
In a bold move, she has become the inaugural U.S. diplomat to step down from her position in objection to the Biden administration’s policies towards Israel and the conflict in Gaza.
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During an interview with ABC News, Rharrit expressed her concern that the continuous supply of weapons from the United States to Israel, without any significant conditions, is jeopardizing America’s national security. She believes that as the Arab world becomes increasingly unstable and hostile towards the interests of the United States, this steady flow of bombs and weapons is only making matters worse.
According to Rharrit, Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza is not beneficial for Israel. Furthermore, providing military aid to Israel with minimal conditions is not a wise decision for America.
It’s not uncommon for diplomats and career government workers to resign from their posts. This trend isn’t new, as we’ve seen it happen before during the George W. Bush administration’s Iraq War. Back then, officials raised questions about the reasoning behind the U.S. invasion and the loss of American service members’ lives.
In recent months, nearly a dozen government workers have joined Rharrit in submitting protest resignations due to the Biden administration’s policies toward Israel and the Gaza conflict. This spring, the trend of protest resignations has resurfaced, with individuals taking a stand against the administration’s actions.
Several individuals have resigned from their federal government positions, including Josh Paul and Stacy Gilbert, who held prominent roles at the State Department and directly oversaw U.S. policy towards Israel. Additionally, U.S. Army Maj. Harrison Mann, an executive officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Middle East-Africa Regional Center, has also left his position.
According to the State Department, feedback from its employees has been sought throughout the war, although the department declined to comment on specific personnel matters.
In a statement, a representative from the State Department emphasized that their staff has numerous channels to offer feedback and suggestions. This includes both the dissent channel and other more common communication methods such as sending cables, emails, attending meetings, and filing spot reports.
According to a statement, the Department has conducted several listening sessions since October 7, with the specific aim of receiving policy feedback concerning the conflict. The Secretary, Deputy Secretaries, and Undersecretaries have all taken part in these sessions.
The Biden administration believed that it was crucial to provide Israel with a consistent supply of ammunition and express unwavering support to deter Iran, its proxies in the region, and terrorist organizations like Hamas.
It has been highlighted by officials that Hamas is responsible for the high number of civilian casualties as they have been using encampments, hospitals, and schools as hiding places. According to them, if Hamas releases the remaining hostages and surrenders to Israel, it could help in reducing hostilities. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused the idea of a permanent cease-fire.
Advisers close to Biden in the US maintain that they have not given Israel a free pass. They have been vocal in their criticism of Israel for not doing enough to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. They have also publicly called upon Israel to take greater measures to protect civilians, including the thousands who have sought refuge in the southern Gazan city of Rafah.
On the other hand, Hamas has been accused by Israel of using civilian areas as their base of operations, and Israel firmly believes that their security cannot be ensured until every single Hamas fighter is eliminated.
As soon as the Hamas attack on Israel occurred on October 7, Rharrit’s responsibility as a State Department employee was to provide updates to Washington regarding the perspectives of Arab audiences on the conflict. Rharrit, who was stationed in Dubai, UAE, as an Arab-language spokesperson, diligently monitored local media outlets, as well as influential figures on social media, to keep track of the war’s coverage.
She explained that Arab viewers were exposed to distressing visuals of children being killed or injured in Israel’s bombing operations. The broadcasts also featured numerous young individuals, recently left without parents, who expressed their desire for revenge against the United States and Israel for providing the weapons. Additionally, the coverage included footage of aid trucks stuck at the border, with babies dying from malnutrition shown alongside them.
Rharrit revealed that she was provided with talking points to convey to Arab outlets. These phrases were meticulously created and sanctioned by the State Department headquarters in Washington.
While the phrases “Israel has a right to defend itself” and “the U.S. stands with Israel” were frequently used, they failed to acknowledge the significant number of civilian casualties, including journalists and aid workers, in Gaza.
According to Rharrit, she voiced her concerns to her superiors about the talking points being “disconnected” from the reality of what Arabs were seeing on their phones. She noted that these statements contradicted the Biden administration’s stance on other conflicts, such as Ukraine, where they frequently condemned attacks on civilians, expressed condolences to affected communities, and called for the protection of journalists.
She stated that in January, her headquarters in Washington requested her to discontinue filing reports as they were deemed unnecessary.
According to the State Department, the highest levels of the Department have reviewed the reporting produced by the Dubai Regional Media Hub on the October 7 attacks.
Rharrit believed that the State Department’s top officials were intentionally disregarding the negative impact of continuously providing Israel with offensive weapons on the international perception of the United States and its policies.
Rharrit, who resigned on April 24, stated that the U.S. was perceived as complicit in the Arab world due to their supply of munitions to Israel.
In an unprecedented move, Biden decided to withhold a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel in May. These devastating, non-precision weapons were believed to have the potential to cause harm to civilians in Rafah. The purpose behind this decision was to encourage restraint. However, Republican lawmakers were quick to criticize Biden’s decision, stating that he had no right to withhold an aid package that was approved by Congress.
Israel continues to receive military aid, both offensive and defensive, which has been a consistent practice for many years.
According to a report from the State Department, it has been deemed “reasonable to assess” that Israel has used U.S. weapons in a manner that goes against their international obligations. Despite this finding, the report also states that the U.S. does not possess “complete information” and therefore will not be withholding weapon shipments to Israel.
According to Israeli officials, the war was triggered by the Oct. 7 attack, in which Hamas killed over 1,200 Israelis, predominantly civilians, and abducted more than 240.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, over 37,000 individuals have lost their lives in the conflict, although the accuracy of these figures cannot be confirmed independently.
According to Israel, it holds the right to eradicate the Hamas fighters who launched an attack on civilians on October 7th. However, it denies any violation of international humanitarian laws.
According to Rharrit, there is a possibility of more staff resignations in the future. However, she also acknowledges that some of her former colleagues are optimistic and waiting for the end of the war before making any decisions.
According to Rharrit, working abroad as an American carries a greater risk now, especially for those who serve in the Middle East or work as diplomatic staff. She believes this is due to the fact that the U.S. is now intricately linked to this war, making it more dangerous for American citizens overseas.
She expressed that the administration is intentionally making them vulnerable to negative consequences.
