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 intentions 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, according to Reuters, the initiative was shelved because it lacked support from senior Washington officials.

US officials in Jerusalem and Washington had drafted the strong statement in early September, criticizing the planned import bans on products from Judea and Samaria. The draft argued that these tactics mirrored the anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Despite the aggressive wording, the statement was ultimately not released.

Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that the statement did not receive backing from the White House or the State Department leadership, leading to its cancellation. This move aligns with the Trump administration's recent policy of not opposing British sanctions against Israeli settlements, a decision reportedly stemming from frustration with Prime Minister Netanyahu's government's settlement policies, particularly the advancement of construction in the E1 area.

This British initiative, joined by 12 other Western nations including France and Canada, imposed sanctions on individuals involved in settlement construction and banned imports. Prime Minister Boris Johnson had reportedly informed President Trump of the impending sanctions, and Trump did not express opposition. US 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.

Secretary of State Rubio declined to condemn the British decision, stating that while the US shared the goal of stability, he would not comment further. The administration also publicly distanced itself from remarks by US 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, highlighting the administration's desire to avoid defending settlement policies or confronting allies on the issue.