ALBAWABA - Amidst the current fighting in the Gaza Strip, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Palestinian Affairs Andrew Miller has resigned. According to three people with knowledge of the situation, reports as of this Friday suggest that Miller resigned this week in order to spend more time with his family.
Miller announced his decision to his coworkers earlier today, ending his employment after a year and a half. He said how he wished he spent more time with his family, pointing out how seldom he saw them, and how he would have chosen to stay in his position and go on defending his convictions if it weren't for these obligations.
This resignation—which was not previously publicized—occurs as dissatisfaction inside and outside the U.S. government mounts due to the high number of civilian deaths in the Gaza war and worries that President Joe Biden's close advisors have a significant influence on U.S. policy choices.
The highest-ranking American official to quit from a post that mostly dealt with Israeli-Palestinian matters is Andrew Miller. For American diplomats hoping for a clearer strategic direction from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right coalition, his departure is regarded as a blow.
Susan Maloney, Vice President and Director of Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution, remarked on the resignation, writing, "Andrew Miller's departure is a loss for the administration and the State Department. It draws attention to how much the war has affected those who are discussing the security ramifications for the United States and its allies."
Miller is regarded as a well-informed commentator on Middle Eastern issues and a steadfast supporter of Palestinian sovereignty and rights. He worked as the Director for Egypt and Israeli Military Issues at the National Security Council under former President Barack Obama and as a senior political consultant to the U.S. Ambassador to the UN before concentrating on Israeli-Palestinian matters.
Miller expressed doubts over the Biden administration's "bear hug" strategy that has been used to the Israeli government ever since the Gaza War began.
