(RepublicanDaily.org) – A high-ranking official of the U.S.’ Department of Education has resigned over what he said is irreconcilable differences between himself and the administration of President Joe Biden’s response and attitude towards the continued hostilities in the Middle East between Israeli and Hamas forces.
Tariq Habash, in his resignation letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, said that he could not bear to continue to “represent an administration that does not value all human life equally.”
“All violence against innocent people is horrific,” Habash wrote. He added, “I mourn each and every loss, Israeli and Palestinian,” also writing that he takes issue with the Biden administration’s glossing over of the “atrocities committed against innocent Palestinian lives.” In his letter, Habash also called Israel’s continued offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza a “genocidal campaign.”
Incidentally, Habas, Palestinian-American, was appointed by Biden to serve as the Education Department’s policy adviser for the department’s Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development. He was considered an expert on student debt and was ostensibly appointed to the post to help contribute to the fulfilment of one of Biden’s campaign promises to cancel student debt.
Habash also spoke to news outlet CNN recently, where he called out the Biden administration for its refusal to officially call for a cessation of hostilities in Gaza. The refusal for a ceasefire, he said, was “untenable” with the sentiment of “millions of Americans.”
President Biden has faced mounting pressure – particularly from within the Democratic Party – to have the U.S. call for an immediate and complete ceasefire in Gaza. Proponents of the ceasefire say that the cost to innocent civilians far outweighs Israel’s desire to completely wipe out Hamas’ military capabilities in the region.
For its part, the Education Department did not comment much on the resignation.
“We wish him (Habash) the best in his future endeavors,” was all the department would say on the matter.
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