Annelle Sheline, a State Department official who promoted human rights in the Middle East on behalf of the US government, resigned Wednesday, 28, March 2024, in protest of US support for Israel’s assault on Gaza.
Annlle Sheline, The Latest To Resign In Gaza Protest
Sheline announced her resignation in a conference with the Washington Post, as the official death toll in Gaza reached 32,510 since October 7. Sheline, who also served as a foreign affairs officer in the Democratic Bureau, Human Rights, and Labor, had no intention of publicly resigning. The move came after her colleagues urged her to speak out on behalf of the atrocities happening in Gaza and Biden’s unconditional support for Israel.
According to Sheline, many people within the State Department are already well aware of the “horrific policy.” In the interview, she said that it was hard to believe that their government would take part in actions ‘that directly contravene the values of the nation.” She then described how she was moved by the reaction of Aaron Bushnell, the active-duty US airman, who set himself on fire before the Israeli Embassy to declare his opposition to America’s support for the war on Gaza.
When asked about her motive behind the move, Sheline said that she wanted to be able to tell her daughter she has done her best, when in the future if her daughter ever questions her regarding her take on the matter.
Sheline, who has been working in the public sector for the past year, said she was informed of her mission as a human rights activist in the Middle East and its importance. However, she added that she could no longer work for a government that supports genocide voluntarily. “Since I am incapable of continuing my service in an administration that openly supports such atrocities, I decided to resign from my position,’ Sheline remarked.
When asked about why she decided to speak up publicly, the ex-official of the State Department said that she didn’t have such a plan initially, but decided to voice against the atrocities after her colleagues prompted her to do so. According to Sheline, her colleagues, who were also in great shock after realizing the interventions made by the US government in strengthening the military force of Israel, pleaded with her to speak up on their behalf as they were not in a position to resign. Thus, I decided to go public.” She further added that her colleagues were “trying to do what they can on the inside.”
When the interviewer asked her about how exactly her colleagues were trying to bring the change within the State Department, she said that there were several foams made available within the State Department to educate people about the role played by the US government in the conflict.
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Besides forums, Sheline said that there was also a “dissent channel inside the State Department.” According to Sheline, the government failed to apply certain laws that they should have applied to ensure peace in the world.
To put forth her point, Sheline referenced the Leahy laws, according to which, whenever a foreign military is accused of human rights violations, the law would prevent further distribution of weapons to that unit.