US drafted memo condemning UK over West Bank sanctions. It was never released
A draft memo from US officials intended to condemn the UK, France, and Canada for blocking imports from Israeli settlements was never released due to a lack of support from the White House. The incident reveals internal disagreements within the US government regarding the response to Israeli settlement expansion.
Why it matters
It underscores the complex and shifting nature of US foreign policy toward Israel and the internal divisions within the American political right.
Israeli heavy machinery demolished homes in Jinba village, Masafer Yatta, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank — Mussa Qawasma (In story from Sept 23, paragraphs 11-12, clarifies that Trump has expressed opposition to Israeli annexation of the West Bank)
WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM, Sept 23 (Reuters) - In early September, US officials in Jerusalem and Washington prepared a draft statement attributed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemning plans by the UK, France and Canada to block imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The September 8 dated document, previously unreported and which two sources said was driven by David Milstein, an influential aide to US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, proposed that Rubio describe the countries' actions as a series of hostile measures against Israel that contribute to antisemitism.
"These tactics unacceptably draw from the playbook of the antisemitic boycotts, divestments and sanctions movement," the draft document, reviewed by Reuters, said.
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