![Washington, DC, [Date] — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed internal disagreements within the State Department over the Biden administration's approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict in an email to staff on Monday. The message, coming on the heels of Blinken's recent travels, acknowledges growing dissent within the State Department and the broader Biden administration regarding the ongoing conflict. Last week, CNN reported that hundreds of personnel at the US Agency for International Development signed an open letter calling for a ceasefire, and there are reports of a "dissent memo" circulating within the State Department. Additionally, last month, a State Department official publicly resigned in protest of the administration's policy on the Israel-Hamas war. In the email seen by CNN, Blinken expressed understanding of the personal toll the crisis is taking on the staff, acknowledging the anguish caused by the daily images of civilians suffering. He noted that some within the Department may disagree with the current approaches and emphasized that forums have been organized in Washington, DC, to allow employees to provide feedback, stating, "We're listening: what you share is informing our policy and our messages." Blinken provided an overview of his recent trip to the Middle East and Asia in the email, reiterating the US' overarching objective to bring the conflict to a close quickly while emphasizing Israel's right and obligation to ensure terrorist attacks are prevented. He acknowledged the significant loss of Palestinian lives and stressed the need to reduce their suffering. The Secretary of State emphasized the importance of Palestinian voices in post-crisis governance in Gaza, advocating for Palestinian-led governance with Gaza unified with the West Bank. He also highlighted the need for sustained support for Gaza's reconstruction. At a State Department briefing on Monday, spokesperson Matt Miller acknowledged the diversity of views within the organization and noted that Blinken has actively sought input from individuals across different ranks and bureaus to understand their perspectives on the policy concerning Israel and its conflict with Hamas. Miller emphasized the strength of the organization in welcoming diverse opinions and facilitating open discussions on controversial matters.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1e455d_0fd67023d34e4573b9362272e4460a06~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/1e455d_0fd67023d34e4573b9362272e4460a06~mv2.jpg)
Washington, DC, November 14, 2023— US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed internal disagreements within the State Department over the Biden administration's approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict in an email to staff on Monday. The message, coming on the heels of Blinken's recent travels, acknowledges growing dissent within the State Department and the broader Biden administration regarding the ongoing conflict.
Last week, CNN reported that hundreds of personnel at the US Agency for International Development signed an open letter calling for a ceasefire, and there are reports of a "dissent memo" circulating within the State Department. Additionally, last month, a State Department official publicly resigned in protest of the administration's policy on the Israel-Hamas war.
In the email seen by CNN, Blinken expressed understanding of the personal toll the crisis is taking on the staff, acknowledging the anguish caused by the daily images of civilians suffering. He noted that some within the Department may disagree with the current approaches and emphasized that forums have been organized in Washington, DC, to allow employees to provide feedback, stating, "We're listening: what you share is informing our policy and our messages."
Blinken provided an overview of his recent trip to the Middle East and Asia in the email, reiterating the US' overarching objective to bring the conflict to a close quickly while emphasizing Israel's right and obligation to ensure terrorist attacks are prevented. He acknowledged the significant loss of Palestinian lives and stressed the need to reduce their suffering.
The Secretary of State emphasized the importance of Palestinian voices in post-crisis governance in Gaza, advocating for Palestinian-led governance with Gaza unified with the West Bank. He also highlighted the need for sustained support for Gaza's reconstruction.
At a State Department briefing on Monday, spokesperson Matt Miller acknowledged the diversity of views within the organization and noted that Blinken has actively sought input from individuals across different ranks and bureaus to understand their perspectives on the policy concerning Israel and its conflict with Hamas. Miller emphasized the strength of the organization in welcoming diverse opinions and facilitating open discussions on controversial matters.
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