West Bank · updated 2h ago · 3 min read
Trump Administration Gives Rare Muted Response to UK, France, Canada Sanctions on West Bank Settlements
The United States issued a rare muted response to sanctions on West Bank settlements. Trump and Rubio have not condemned the sanctions; their position remains unclear.
How the US response is characterised: muted diplomacy vs possible concern.
9 of 10 outlets skipped it: israel may expand or narrow sanctions scope based on next government actions.
The Times of Israel was read line by line by the Watchdog: 5.5. See the score →
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Same story, two versions
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BBC implies a passive stance; CNN highlights uncertainty over the US position.
US stays quiet on sanctions
The Trump administration did not condemn the United Kingdom, France, Canada and others for planned sanctions on settlements in the occupied West Bank, a rare muted response that CNN said stands out for the self-described “most pro-Israel” administration in history.C
“he would be “speaking to Israel.””
President Donald Trump told reporters he would be “speaking to Israel” after being asked about the sanctions, saying, “I understand exactly what’s going on, but I want to find out why all of a sudden does that happen?”
CNN reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio also declined to comment or condemn the new sanctions, while noting that the US shared “the goal of stability” and did not “want to see some uptick in violence… in the West Bank”.C
The same CNN report said the UK briefed the US ahead of the Tuesday announcement, including in a call from Prime Minister Andy Burnham to Trump, and that sources suggested Trump and Rubio’s reaction may indicate discomfort with Israeli policies in the West Bank.C
CNN also quoted former US Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro saying the lack of initial condemnation “represents at least some degree of recognition on the part of the administration” regarding problematic violence and extremist actions in the West Bank.C
Rubio cites stability; Israel escalates
As the UK unveiled sanctions against Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, Israel responded with fury, declaring it would shutter Britain’s diplomatic mission to the Palestinians, kick out UK military staff from an international coordination base near Gaza, and ban nearly a dozen left-wing British members of parliament from entering Israel, the BBC reported.B
The BBC said the UK acted on what it described as a moral imperative to stop the “destruction” of the two-state solution, accusing Israel’s government of turning a blind eye to the “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians by settlers.B
Rubio, asked about the UK move by reporters on the way to Colombia, 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.”
The BBC also reported that Rubio added Britain had notified the administration ahead of time and that the US shared “the goal of stability” at a tense time in the region.B
Trump, asked about the sanctions on Wednesday, said he would be speaking to Israel to understand their thinking, adding: “I understand exactly what’s going on, but I want to find out why all of a sudden has that happened.”
What’s at stake next
The BBC framed the standoff as raising a crucial question about whether the US would condemn Britain’s policy when Israel becomes isolated, noting that Washington often provides a diplomatic shield when Israel faces international pressure.B
“When Israel becomes isolated, the US as its superpower backer often steps in to provide a diplomatic shield.”
CNN reported that even the smallest measures against settlements would mark a major rift between Israel and the United States, and said sources were watching whether Trump might “land in favor of taking some action” as the administration weighs its response.C
The Times of Israel reported that a British official said the scope of the UK’s newly announced sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank could expand or narrow based on the actions of Israel’s next government, with technical details discussed over “the next six to nine months”.
That same Times of Israel report said the planned import ban would cover goods from Israeli settlements throughout the West Bank, including the Jordan Valley, while whether it would apply to “Jewish areas in East Jerusalem” remained “undecided”.
The Guardian said the sanctions were described by prominent Israelis as an “inevitable consequence” of Israeli government and security failures, and it quoted a joint statement arguing, “Sanctions [are being imposed] against Jewish terrorists, and not against the legitimacy of the state of Israel,” while also noting that Ed Miliband’s language and the scale of controls announced on Tuesday surprised Israelis.