US Embassy Draft Condemning Anti-Israel Trade Measures Was Shelved

An internal draft statement prepared by U.S. officials in Jerusalem, intended to condemn a decision by Britain, France, Canada, and other Western nations to ban imports and restrict trade of goods from Israeli settlements, was never published. The draft, which was reportedly initiated by David Millstein, an aide to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, described the 12 nations' move as "hostile actions against Israel that contribute to antisemitism." It further alleged that these tactics were "unacceptably taken from the playbook of the BDS movement, which continues to pursue antisemitic sanctions."

According to Reuters, the statement was dated September 8, the same day the 12 countries announced their intention to "introduce or support national and European restrictions on trade in goods from settlements defined as illegal under international law." The draft statement was intended to be issued in the name of then-Secretary of State Marco Rubio, but it did not receive support from the White House or senior levels of the State Department.

Rubio's official response to the settlement sanctions was notably different, as he avoided direct criticism. Before a trip to Latin America, he stated, "We are clearly not going to do what Britain has done. We saw their announcement today, but I have no reaction to it at this time."

The shelved statement highlights a growing divergence between U.S. representatives in Israel and the White House regarding the appropriate response to Israeli settlement expansion under the current government. It also underscores increasing ideological divisions within the American right concerning support for Israel, with recent polls indicating younger Republicans hold increasingly negative views of the U.S. ally.

Ambassador Huckabee reportedly strongly supports the settlement enterprise, while President Trump opposes them but exerts minimal pressure on Israel to alter its policies. A senior U.S. official told Reuters that the draft statement was not prepared in coordination with the State Department or the White House. Both Ambassador Huckabee and Millstein referred Reuters' request for comment to the U.S. State Department.