Josh Paul, an official from the State Department, has stepped down in protest of the ongoing U.S. military aid to Israel amidst increasing tension and resulting humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Paul was previously the Director of Congressional and Public Affairs in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. In a public resignation letter shared on LinkedIn, he mentioned his principle of working as long as the positive impact outweighed any potential negative outcomes.
In his letter, Paul stated that he could no longer fulfill this principle due to the U.S.’s continued and rushed supply of lethal weapons to Israel, prompting his resignation. His resignation coincided with President Biden’s visit to Israel, during which the President pledged further defense funding while urging the Israelis to restrain their anger. The president also directed $100 million to provide humanitarian aid for the residents of Palestine.
Paul applauded the administration’s attempt to mitigate Israel’s response, including advocating for relief and safe passage for Gaza’s civilians. However, he expressed his inability to support policy decisions, including supplying more arms to one conflict party, which he deems as destructive, shortsighted, and contradictory to publically stated U.S. values. The State Department refused to comment on this personnel issue.
During an interview with Morning Edition’s Michel Martin, Paul condemned Hamas’ assault on Israel, confirming Israel’s right to self-defense. Yet, he argued that these defenses should not lead to the displacement of a million Palestinians or the death of thousands of civilians. He also voiced the need to consider the rights of Palestinians.
Paul noted that his exit might not trigger immediate policy changes, as other experts corroborated to NPR. However, he hopes that his resignation paves the way for others in the government to voice their dissent. After his resignation letter was shared over 1,000 times, he received a massive response and hopes his stand inspires his colleagues to do what they believe is right.
Paul Asserts the Novelty of His Current Ethical Dilemma
Paul, an expert on Middle East affairs, has expressed a unique ethical quandary that sets his recent experiences apart from his past 11 years of service. With an impressive portfolio that includes working with both the Palestinian Authority and the Israel Defense Forces, and a master’s degree thesis on Israeli counterterrorism and civil rights, he has been deeply involved in many complex issues. Over the years, he has frequently utilized his influential position to support what he believes to be morally correct decisions, even in controversial cases such as arms distribution to questionable regimes. However, he now finds himself in an uncommon situation.
Unlike previous instances where concerns about human rights could be negotiated internally before a congressional debate, the case of Israel is markedly different. Paul feels it’s as if there’s a guaranteed approval from Congress for Israel, with little room for discussion either within the administration or in the wider congressional stage. Despite some dissenting opinions from the far left, Congress seems to be unanimously in favor of supporting Israel, at least in the near future.
Paul’s immediate request to the Biden administration is simple: adhere to their publicly stated commitments. He refers to the recent conventional arms transfer policy which categorically declares that no arms will be allowed to be transferred if there is a reasonable possibility of misuse by the recipient, including acts amounting to genocide, crimes against humanity, and violence against children. He is disappointed that despite these commitments, the U.S is considering responding to Israel’s demand for more bombs, which he believes will be counterproductive to the stated policy goals.
Resigning is an Available Recourse for Dissenting Government Officials
It remains to be seen whether Paul’s resignation will spark any significant changes. Experts suggest that such a move is unlikely to influence U.S. policy. Ronald Neumann, who is the head of the American Academy of Diplomacy and a former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, says that State Department employees have two options when they find themselves opposed to a policy: they can either resign or request a transfer.
Neumann explains that individuals often grapple with whether to remain in their position, potentially effecting change from within, or to opt out of implementing policies they fundamentally disagree with. He also mentions that such resignations are not uncommon, citing examples from the past. However, Neumann does not believe that these resignations have made a significant impact on either the department or the policies in question. Despite Paul receiving support from many colleagues, Neumann does not predict it will lead to substantial changes. He highlights the existence of an official internal mechanism within the State Department that allows employees to raise concerns about U.S. policy.
The Dissent Channel, a construct hailing from the era of the Vietnam War, is a confidential platform for employees to voice disagreements with policy, directed to the Secretary of State, without fear of retribution. Neumann emphasized that it’s crucial for individuals to respect their professional obligations, by either keeping dissent within the organization or, like Mr. Paul, resigning and expressing it externally. Although dissent cables do not assure alterations in policy, they have influenced changes, such as a 1992 memo regarding U.S. apathy towards genocide in Bosnia, which is extensively acknowledged as a catalyst for the U.S.-mediated peace agreements.
The volume of dissent cables typically stands at four or five annually, with significant increases noted during the Obama and Trump presidencies. Tom Yazdgerdi, head of the American Foreign Service Association, relayed to NPR via email that there have been no indications of foreign service members considering resignation over the U.S.’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Instead, concerns mainly revolve around the safety of the families of diplomatic personnel in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Beirut, which the State Department has addressed by offering authorized departure to those eligible.
