Top state department official suddenly resigns

One of the top officials in the Biden administration's Department of State has abruptly resigned. 

The Washington Post reports that Andrew Miller announced his resignation on Friday, June 21, 2024.

Miller is - or rather was - the department's deputy assistant secretary for Israeli-Palestinian affairs.

The resignation comes as the Israel-Palestine conflict continues, and the Biden administration continues to face criticism on all sides for its handling of the situation. But, apparently, Miller's resignation has nothing to do with any of this.

Here's what we know about Miller's resignation:

According to the Post, Miller, when he told his colleagues that he was resigning, claimed that the reason for the resignation is that the job has taken too much away from his family life.

"He cited his family, saying he has seen them sparingly as the eight-month war in Gaza has become all-consuming. Miller told colleagues that if not for those responsibilities, he would have preferred to remain in his job and fight for what he believes, including in those areas where he disagreed with administration policy," the outlet reports.

Miller is a supporter of Palestine.

"People who know Miller describe him as a principled supporter of Palestinian rights and statehood, and a nuanced thinker about Middle East affairs," the Post reports.

Accordingly, he at times has been at odds with the Biden administration's occasional support of Israel. One would have to think that, despite what Miller has said, this has played some role in his decision to resign.

Background

Aljazeera reports, "Miller’s is the latest in a string of resignations from the Biden administration across several government agencies over Washington’s continued support for Israel."

Notably, though, Miller is the most senior U.S. official - working on the Israel-Palestine conflict - to resign.

His time in the executive branch goes back to the Obama administration, when he was the director for Egypt and Israel military issues on the White House National Security Council. After that, he spent time as a senior policy adviser to the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller - there does not appear to be any relation between Andrew and Matthew Miller, despite the same last name - has put out a statement on Miller's resignation saying that it will be a big loss for the Biden administration.

“Andrew brought deep experience and sharp perspective to the table every day. Everyone here is sorry to see him go, but we wish him well in his next endeavors," he said.