Undercurrents “I Could Not Stay Silent” - Fmr Biden official Annelle Sheline reveals why she quit
Jul 9, 2025
Annelle Sheline, a research fellow at the Quincy Institute and former Biden official, shares her bold decision to resign from the State Department over U.S. support for Israeli military actions in Gaza. She highlights the Biden administration's disregard for human rights laws and advocates for an end to violence and Israel's withdrawal from Gaza. The conversation delves into the complexities of U.S. foreign policy and its consequences on peace negotiations, the humanitarian crisis, and the evolving public opinion on American support for Israel.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Sheline's Resignation Story
- Annelle Sheline resigned from the State Department in March 2024 due to unconditional U.S. support for Israeli actions in Gaza.
- She attempted internal dissent but left when legal violations around security assistance persisted unaddressed.
Real Objective Beyond Hamas
- Hamas rejects temporary ceasefires aiming instead for Israel's withdrawal from Gaza as required by international law.
- Israeli strategy appears focused on ethnic cleansing and annexing Palestinian territories, not just combatting Hamas.
U.S. Enables Annexation
- Trump initially threatened to use leverage over U.S. military aid to secure ceasefire but Israel violated agreements to prepare for renewed conflict.
- U.S. policy under both Biden and Trump enables Israeli annexation of West Bank and displacement of Palestinians.