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Unreleased US Memo Condemned UK Over West Bank Sanctions
US officials wrote a draft statement criticizing the United Kingdom, France and Canada.
Those countries planned to block imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
The draft said these actions were hostile toward Israel and contributed to antisemitism.
It also compared them with the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement.
The statement was never published.
Sources said senior White House and State Department officials did not support it.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio later avoided directly criticizing the countries.
The episode showed disagreements among US officials about Israeli settlements and relations with Israel.
US officials drafted, but never released, a statement condemning UK, France and Canada over planned settlement-import restrictions.
The draft called the measures hostile actions contributing to antisemitism and compared them with the BDS movement.
Three sources said the statement lacked support from the White House and senior State Department leadership.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio instead declined to criticize the countries’ announcement publicly on September 8.
The episode exposed disagreements within the Trump administration and the American right over Israeli settlements and support for Israel.
- Who
- US officials, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and aides connected to Ambassador Mike Huckabee; the United Kingdom, France and Canada were also involved.
- What
- A draft US statement condemned plans to restrict imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, but it was not released.
- Where
- The draft was prepared by officials in Jerusalem and Washington and concerned the occupied West Bank.
- When
- The draft was dated September 8, and Rubio addressed the issue publicly that day; Reuters reported the episode on September 23.
- Why
- The draft sought to portray the planned restrictions as hostile measures against Israel that contributed to antisemitism, while senior US officials did not support issuing it.
Criticism of Settlement Policies
Defense of Israel and Settlements
Restrictions on settlement imports
Criticism of Settlement Policies
The United Kingdom, France and Canada planned to block imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, reflecting opposition to settlement policy.
Defense of Israel and Settlements
The draft statement characterized those measures as hostile actions against Israel and compared them with the antisemitic BDS movement.
US government response
Criticism of Settlement Policies
The White House and senior State Department officials did not support releasing the draft, and Rubio avoided directly criticizing the countries.
Defense of Israel and Settlements
Officials connected to Ambassador Mike Huckabee sought a stronger defense of Israel and condemnation of the planned restrictions.
Legality of settlements
Criticism of Settlement Policies
The United Nations and most countries consider the settlements illegal under international law governing military occupation.
Defense of Israel and Settlements
Israel rejects that view and considers the West Bank disputed rather than occupied; supporters of the settlements use the terms Judea and Samaria.
Key facts
- Draft status
- The proposed statement was never released.
- Countries criticized
- The United Kingdom, France and Canada.
- Subject of restrictions
- Imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
- Draft language
- It described the measures as hostile actions contributing to antisemitism and likened them to the BDS movement.
- Public response
- Marco Rubio declined to comment directly on the United Kingdom’s announcement on September 8.
- Settlement population
- About 500,000 Israeli settlers and 3 million Palestinians live in the West Bank, according to the report.
- Public opinion
- A June Quinnipiac poll found 48% of voters and 66% of Democrats believed the United States was too supportive of Israel.
Quotes
The draft statement attributed to Marco Rubio
An unreleased draft statement prepared by US officials and attributed to the secretary of state
“Obviously, we’re not going to do what the UK did. We saw their announcement today, but I don’t have any comment on it right now”
theprint.in
“These tactics unacceptably draw from the playbook of the antisemitic boycotts, divestments and sanctions movement”
theprint.in
Sources
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