White House Blocks Condemnation of UK, France, Canada Over Settlement Boycott

The White House reportedly blocked a draft document that would have condemned Britain, France, and Canada for their intention to ban imports from Israeli settlements. The draft, prepared for Secretary of State Marco Rubio, suggested labeling these actions as "hostile moves contributing to antisemitism." However, the initiative was shelved because it lacked support from senior U.S. officials, according to Reuters.

The proposed statement criticized the countries' plans to prohibit products from Judea and Samaria, calling the measures "hostile moves against Israel that contribute to antisemitism." It further linked these tactics to the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. The decision to shelve the document stemmed from a lack of backing from the White House and the State Department leadership.

This move aligns with the Trump administration's recent policy of not opposing sanctions against Israeli settlements. Notably, the U.S. did not object to a British initiative imposing sanctions on individuals involved in settlement construction and banning settlement goods, a move that 12 Western nations joined. This inaction is seen as a signal of Washington's frustration with the Netanyahu government's settlement policies, particularly its advancement of construction in the E1 area, which has faced opposition from successive U.S. administrations.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reportedly informed President Trump of the impending sanctions, and Trump did not express opposition. U.S. officials conveyed to their British counterparts that they shared concerns about Israeli policy on the ground, even if they did not endorse the specific sanctions route.

Secretary of State Rubio declined to condemn the British decision, stating that while the U.S. shared the goal of stability, he would not comment further. The administration also publicly distanced itself from remarks by U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, who had called the British action "discrimination against the Jewish people." A senior White House official clarified that Friedman's comments were not coordinated with the White House or the State Department leadership, underscoring the administration's desire to avoid defending West Bank settlement activities or confronting allies on the issue.