Reuters: U.S. refuses to condemn allies for sanctions against Israeli settlements
U.S. officials were preparing a draft statement on behalf of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which condemned sanctions by Britain, France and Canada against Israeli settlements in the West Bank. However, the document never received approval, and the statement was not published, Reuters reported, citing sources.
U.S. officials were preparing a draft statement on behalf of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which condemned sanctions by Britain, France and Canada against Israeli settlements in the West Bank. However, the document never received approval, and the statement was not published, Reuters reported, citing sources.
The document called the actions of the allies “hostile measures” that promote anti-Semitism. David Milstein, Assistant U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, participated in the preparation of the document.
The situation illustrates a deepening rift between the White House and senior U.S. President Donald Trump’s diplomats in Israel over how best to respond to Israeli settlement expansion under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. It also highlights the growing ideological divide within the American right over support for Israel.
On September 8, Britain, France and Canada announced a ban on imports of products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Nine other countries have expressed willingness to join the measures. The reason was announced by Israel tenders for the construction of about 1,200 homes for settlers in the West Bank. They called it “the equivalent of annexing Palestinian lands.”.
