Maj. Harrison Mann, a Jewish American veteran of the U.S. Army working for the Defense Intelligence Agency, recently resigned from his position due to the United States’ support for Israel. Mann claims that this support has enabled the killing and starvation of innocent Palestinians, leading him to make the difficult decision to leave his job. He is the first military and intelligence community member to publicly resign in protest of U.S. support for Israel’s actions in the region.
In his first television interview since resigning, Mann expressed his concerns to CBS News senior national correspondent Jim Axelrod. He criticized the use of U.S. weapons by Israel in its operations in Gaza, particularly in response to Hamas attacks and the capture of Jewish hostages. Mann questioned the indiscriminate targeting of Palestinian civilians and the high civilian death toll, stating that he does not believe it aligns with the principle of “never again” following the Holocaust.
As the grandson of Jews who fled antisemitism in Eastern Europe, Mann emphasized the need for a more productive and ethical response from Israel in the ongoing conflict. He suggested that Israel’s actions may amount to ethnic cleansing and do not contribute to the security of the state or Jewish people worldwide. Mann called for a more responsible approach to the conflict that does not alienate the international community or jeopardize the long-term security of Israel.
Mann’s decision to go public with his resignation was prompted by the Biden administration’s assessment in May, which acknowledged instances of Israel’s conduct being inconsistent with international humanitarian law. Despite these findings, the administration opted not to interrupt U.S. aid to Israel, leading Mann to criticize the justification for continuing support. He highlighted the importance of holding all parties accountable for their actions and urged for a reconsideration of U.S. policies in light of the ongoing conflict.
In light of the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in the region, Mann’s resignation serves as a powerful statement against the status quo of U.S. support for Israel. His decision to speak out reflects a growing concern among some American officials about the impact of U.S. policies on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Mann’s actions have sparked a conversation about the role of the United States in the region and the need for a more nuanced and ethical approach to addressing the complex issues at hand.
