US Did Not Oppose UK Sanctions on Israeli Settlements, Signaling Frustration

The Trump administration did not oppose or attempt to block a British initiative to impose new sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank, according to senior American officials and Western diplomats. The White House's decision not to act against the British move, which was joined by 12 other Western nations, signals frustration with the Netanyahu government's policies in the West Bank.

Britain announced Tuesday it would sanction individuals and entities involved in settlement construction and ban imports of settlement products. This action was a response to the Netanyahu government's decision to establish a new settlement in the sensitive E1 area, a move that would divide the region and prevent territorial contiguity for a future Palestinian state. Both Republican and Democratic administrations have historically opposed construction in E1.

Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden announced their intention to implement national restrictions or support European restrictions on trade with Israeli settlements. In response, the Netanyahu government announced the closure of the British Consulate in East Jerusalem, which manages relations with the Palestinian Authority, and expelled British diplomats and military officers assigned to US-led task forces in Gaza and the West Bank.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke with President Trump before the sanctions announcement, informing him of the plan. Sources familiar with the conversation indicated that Trump did not express opposition or ask Burnham to refrain from the action. American officials conveyed to their British counterparts that they share concerns about the Netanyahu government's West Bank policies, even if they do not agree with the specific sanctions measure.

When asked about the British decision, Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not condemn it, stating that the President had not commented and that the US shares the goal of stability in the West Bank. The White House also distanced itself from remarks by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who called the sanctions "discrimination against the Jewish people" and an "irrational step," questioning why similar sanctions were not imposed on North Korea, China, and Russia. The White House stated Huckabee's remarks were not coordinated with them or the State Department leadership.