In early September, US officials prepared a draft statement condemning plans by the UK, France and Canada to block imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The draft, dated September 8, was attributed to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and proposed describing the countries' actions as hostile measures against Israel that contribute to antisemitism.
The draft document, reviewed by Reuters, said the tactics used by these countries unacceptably draw from the playbook of the antisemitic boycotts, divestments and sanctions movement. However, the statement was never released, with three people familiar with the matter stating that it was not supported by the White House and the US State Department's senior leadership.
Instead, Rubio refrained from outright criticism of the decision or any particular country when speaking to reporters on September 8 in Florida. He said, "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 episode highlights a widening divide between the White House and US President Donald Trump's senior diplomats in Israel.
The divide is over how best to respond to the expansion of Israeli settlements under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government. This growing ideological split within the American right over support for Israel is also reflected in polling, which shows younger Republicans holding an increasingly unfavourable opinion of Washington's closest Middle East ally.
Trump earlier this year expressed his opposition to settlement expansion, a growing source of friction with Israel's Arab neighbours. However, his administration has put little pressure on Israel to change its policy, putting him at odds with US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister who is a staunch supporter of settlements.
Huckabee's aide, David Milstein, last year advocated for the US to impose sanctions on the entire International Criminal Court to convince it to drop war crimes charges against Israeli leaders over the Gaza war. A senior US official said the draft statement was not prepared in consultation with the State Department or White House.
US public support for Israel has fallen since the Gaza war began in 2023, particularly among Democrats. A June Quinnipiac University poll found 48% of voters and 66% of Democrats believe the US is too supportive of Israel. About 500,000 Israeli settlers and 3 million Palestinians live in the West Bank, territory Palestinians have long sought for a future state.
Key points
- US officials drafted but withheld a memo criticising UK, France and Canada's plans to block imports from Israeli settlements.
- The draft statement was not supported by the White House and US State Department's senior leadership.
- US public backing for Israel has fallen since the Gaza war began in 2023, particularly among Democrats.
