āOn Thin Iceā: Some Biden Administration Staffers Feel Stifled Discussing Horrors In Gaza
Several officials spoke to HuffPost about what one called the United Statesā āmonstrous disregard for innocent Palestinian livesā ā and the challenge of questioning Israel internally.President Joe Biden departed for Israel on Tuesday evening on a high-stakes diplomatic visit amid ongoing Israeli-Palestinian bloodshed that has killed more than 4,000 people so far. As Biden grapples with the crisis, several U.S. officials told HuffPost it has become difficult to have a full debate within his administration about whatās happening in Israel-Palestine ā and in particular that people who want to talk about Israeli restraint or humanitarian protections for Palestinians feel stifled.
Several staffers across multiple agencies, most of whom work on national security issues, told HuffPost they and their colleagues worry about retaliation at work for questioning Israelās conduct amid the U.S.-backed Israeli campaign to avenge an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, that killed more than 1,400 Israelis.
The fear is especially intense among staffers with Muslim backgrounds. On Sunday, presidential personnel office chief Gautam Raghavan organized a call with close to a dozen current and former high-level Muslim appointees to discuss their concerns. Some staffers said they felt unsafe voicing their opinions around colleagues, according to a person on the call, which has not been previously reported.
And officials tracking the escalating fighting are quietly sharing dark predictions about the ultimate toll of Israelās operation in Gaza, Hamasās base, along with pessimism about their ability to influence the situation and Bidenās commitment to reducing tensions.
The period since the Hamas attack represents āthe first time in the administration that there was a real culture of silence,ā one official said. āIt feels like post-9/11 where you feel like your thoughts are being policed, and youāre really afraid of being seen as anti-American or an anti-Semite.ā
A career civil servant described tension between their commitment to challenging rights abuses and their job.
āIām trying to educate people about Palestine through social media, but Iām worried Iāll lose my security clearance for criticizing the president or blaming the U.S. for civilian massacre,ā they told HuffPost. āI feel like thereās no place for me in America anymore, and Iām on thin ice with my clearance because of my heritage and because I care about my people dying.ā
The seemingly stifled internal debate undercuts Bidenās narrative that his administration is historically diverse and open to perspectives from traditionally marginalized groups, including on questions of global affairs.
Much more at the link below...
Exclusive: āCulture Of Silenceā In Biden Admin Stifling Debate About Israelās Actions In Gaza, Sources Say
Several officials spoke to HuffPost about what one called the United Statesā āmonstrous disregard for innocent Palestinian livesā ā and the challenge of questioning Israel internally.
www.huffpost.com
President Biden made the risky trip to Israel because he knew this situation was a potential powder keg that could blow up the entire Middle East - even before the bombing of Gaza's Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital. What do you think?