A draft statement attributed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, prepared by U.S. officials in early September, condemned planned import bans on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank by the United Kingdom, France, and Canada. The document, which was never released, proposed that Rubio characterize these actions as hostile measures contributing to antisemitism.
The draft statement, dated September 8 and reviewed by Reuters, described the countries' actions as drawing from "the playbook of the antisemitic boycotts, divestments and sanctions movement." Sources familiar with the matter indicated that the statement was driven by David Milstein, an aide to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, and was not supported by the White House or senior State Department leadership.
Instead of issuing a strong condemnation, Secretary Rubio, speaking to reporters on September 8, stated, "Obviously, we’re not going to do what the UK did. We saw their announcement today, but I don’t have any comment on it right now." This approach highlights a division within the Trump administration regarding policy towards Israeli settlements and reflects a growing ideological split within the American right concerning support for Israel.
The episode underscores the complexities of U.S. policy toward Israeli settlements, a point of contention with Israel's Arab neighbors. President Donald Trump has previously expressed opposition to settlement expansion, yet his administration has exerted minimal pressure on Israel to alter its policies. This stance has occasionally placed the President at odds with Ambassador Huckabee, a vocal supporter of settlements who uses the biblical names Judea and Samaria for the West Bank.
Public support for Israel in the United States has shown a decline, particularly among Democrats, with recent polls indicating a growing percentage of voters believe the U.S. is overly supportive of Israel. While older Republicans largely maintain positive views of Israel, younger conservatives have become increasingly critical. This shift is occurring as violence by Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank has risen, a situation occurring under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government, which includes ministers who are themselves settlers.
