In an attempt to bolster morale amid growing dissatisfaction within the administration over its Israel policy, the White House is reportedly planning a large-scale party, as per a recent report.
The event, described as an "off-campus" gathering, is set to be hosted by President Biden's affluent chief of staff, Jeff Zients. The party aims to honor the efforts of hundreds of staff members over the past three years and provide a morale boost as they approach what might be Biden's final year in office, as reported by Axios.
However, the timing of the party coincides with a wave of discontent within the administration. A senior Biden education official resigned on Wednesday in protest of the administration's stance on the conflict between Israel and Hamas. In addition, over a dozen Biden campaign staff members anonymously penned a letter expressing their dissatisfaction with the administration's handling of the conflict.
The invitation to the party was emailed to staff members on Wednesday, indicating that the event would take place at a private venue in Northern Virginia later this month. "To ensure we are able to include as many staff as possible, this invitation is non-transferrable and does not include a guest," Zients stated in the invitation.
While the party is intended for official staff rather than campaign workers, the renewed criticism of Biden's Israel policy underscores the growing dissent within the administration. This dissent has only intensified since the conflict escalated in November.
Tariq Habash, a special assistant in the Education Department's Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development, voiced his protest in his resignation letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. "I cannot stay silent as this administration turns a blind eye to the atrocities committed against innocent Palestinian lives, in what leading human rights experts have called a genocidal campaign by the Israeli government," Habash wrote.
Similarly, the 17 Biden campaign staff members used strong language in their letter, arguing that the Palestinian deaths "cannot be justified." They urged the administration to publicly call for a cessation of violence, warning that the administration's response to Israel's actions in Gaza could jeopardize the 2024 election.
In November, 400 government officials from 40 departments and agencies within the administration signed a letter opposing the president's handling of the conflict and demanded a cease-fire. A leaked internal State Department memo also revealed staff members urging the administration to alter its public stance toward Israel and support a cease-fire.
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