Blinken Addresses Intra-Departmental Discord on Israel-Hamas conflict in Internal Email
Secretary of State Blinken openly acknowledged internal disagreements within the State Department regarding the Biden administration's strategy towards the Israel-Hamas conflict, addressing the matter in a staff email
Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed internal discord within the State Department regarding the Biden administration's stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict in an email to staff on Monday. This communication follows his recent travels and is reflective of the increasing discontent and divergence of views among not only State Department personnel but also throughout the broader Biden administration. CNN revealed that hundreds of individuals at the US Agency for International Development expressed their support for a ceasefire through an open letter, while rumors of a "dissent memo" circulating within the State Department have also emerged.
In an email seen by CNN, Blinken acknowledged the personal toll that the crisis is having on many individuals. The images of suffering civilians, including babies, children, elderly, and women, are deeply distressing. Blinken himself feels the anguish. Inside the State Department, there has been strong opposition to the Biden administration's approach to the conflict, including a public resignation by one official. Other officials in the administration have silently expressed their frustration as the number of civilian deaths continues to rise.
In the message, the US diplomat acknowledges that there may be individuals within the Department who hold differing opinions regarding our current approaches or have suggestions on how we can improve.
To address this, we have arranged forums in Washington to provide a platform for hearing your thoughts. Additionally, we have encouraged managers and teams at various posts worldwide to engage in open and honest discussions in order to gather your valuable feedback and ideas. I have specifically requested our senior leadership to continue this practice.
"We are actively listening: your contributions are shaping our policies and communications," he affirmed.
In his email, Blinken offered a summary of his recent visit to the Middle East and Asia. He emphasized that the United States' primary goal continues to be resolving this devastating conflict as swiftly as possible, all while upholding Israel's legitimate right and duty, in strict adherence to international humanitarian law, to prevent any recurrence of a terrorist incident like that of October 7th."
He emphasized that there have been an excessive number of Palestinian civilian casualties and emphasized the need for more action to alleviate their suffering.
"As I have previously indicated, it is our perspective that the Palestinian people's perspectives should be the focal point of post-crisis governance in Gaza," Blinken stated. "We advocate for a governance framework in Gaza that is led by Palestinians, while also integrating Gaza and the West Bank. The reconstruction of Gaza should be facilitated through a continuous mechanism of support."
HuffPost broke the news about the email on Monday.
During a State Department briefing on Monday, spokesperson Matthew Miller highlighted that the State Department, along with various organizations worldwide, includes individuals with a range of perspectives.
Highlighting our organizational strength, Miller states that we value and encourage diverse opinions. The secretary has actively engaged with individuals at every level and from various departments within the organization to understand their perspectives. This encompasses their thoughts on our policy concerning Israel's conflict with Hamas, as well as other contentious issues.
