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US drafted West Bank memo condemning UK, France, Canada—then shelved it

A State Department statement attacking allied sanctions on Israeli settlements never saw daylight after White House rejection.

newest coverage 6h agosummary written 1h ago6 pieces NewswiresRedditGoogle News

What to know

  • A draft State Department statement characterizing UK, France, and Canadian settlement sanctions as antisemitic was prepared by allies of US Ambassador Huckabee but rejected by White House and State Department leadership and never released.
  • The episode exposes a widening divide between Trump's pro-settlement diplomats in Israel and the White House over how to respond to Israeli settlement expansion.
  • US public support for Israel has fallen sharply since the Gaza war began, particularly among younger Republicans, complicating the administration's approach.

David Milstein Aide to US Ambassador to Israel Mike HuckabeeMarco RubioMarco Rubio Secretary of StateMike HuckabeeMike Huckabee US Ambassador to IsraelDonald TrumpDonald Trump PresidentBenjamin NetanyahuBenjamin Netanyahu Prime Minister of Israel

US drafted West Bank memo condemning UK, France, Canada—then shelved it
Straits Times

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

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  1. 1

    Reuters reports draft memo was rejected by White House and State Department leadership

    Reuters discloses that the September 8 draft statement was not supported by the White House and the State Department's senior leadership, and that a senior US official confirmed the draft was not prepared in consultation with either body. The document was never released.

    “These tactics unacceptably draw from the playbook of the antisemitic boycotts, divestments and sanctions movement…”
    — Draft statement attributed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of State (draft document) · source
    1. 5 outlets US drafted memo condemning UK over West Bank sanctions. It was never released

      first by Straits Times, 8h ago · also Al-Monitor, Reuters, Times of Israel, Hindustan Times

      2 more headlines
  2. background

    Rubio refrains from endorsing draft, takes neutral stance on UK announcement — Speaking to reporters on September 8 in Florida before traveling to Latin America, Secretary of State Rubio refrained from outright criticism of the UK decision or any particular country, departing from the draft statement's aggressive language.

  3. background

    US officials draft Rubio statement condemning UK, France, Canada settlement sanctions — US officials in Jerusalem and Washington prepared a draft statement dated September 8, 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 document, driven by David Milstein, an influential aide to US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, proposed that Rubio describe the countries' actions as hostile measures that contribute to antisemitism.