Trump didn't oppose UK sanctions on Israeli settlements
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham led a 12-nation effort to impose sanctions on entities involved in building new West Bank settlements. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
The Trump administration did not oppose a UK-led initiative to impose new sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, U.S. officials and Western diplomats say.
Why it matters: The White House's decision not to push back on the UK effort, which 11 other Western countries have joined, is a signal of its frustration with the Netanyahu government's policy in the West Bank.
Driving the news: The UK announced Tuesday it would impose sanctions against individuals and entities involved in building settlements in the West Bank.
- The UK also announced a ban on imported goods from the Israeli settlements.
- The move came in response to the Netanyahu government's decision to move forward with a new settlement in the sensitive E1 area, which would divide the West Bank and prevent territorial contiguity in any future Palestinian state.
- Consecutive Republican and Democratic administrations opposed building in E1.
- Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden joined the UK in announcing "their intention to introduce national and/or support European restrictions on trade in goods with the Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank."
- In response, the Netanyahu government announced the closure of the UK consulate in East Jerusalem, which handles relations with the Palestinian Authority. It also expelled British diplomats and military officers posted to a U.S.-led Gaza task force and terminated a British military training mission in the West Bank.
Behind the scenes: British Prime Minister Andy Burnham briefed President Trump ahead of the sanctions announcement.
- Two sources with knowledge of the call said Trump didn't push back or ask Burnham to change course.
- U.S. officials told their British counterparts they shared their concerns about the Netanyahu government's West Bank policy, even if they disagreed with these specific sanctions, sources say.
What they're saying: Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not condemn the UK's move when asked about it by reporters on Tuesday.
- "The President hasn't commented on this and neither have I. We were made aware that they are gonna make this decision. We heard their arguments as to why," Rubio said. "We share the goal of stability. We don't want to see an uptick in violence or tensions in the West Bank in a tenuous time in the region."
Between the lines: On Tuesday, the White House distanced itself from comments U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee made to the BBC attacking the new sanctions.
- The remarks "were not coordinated with the White House" or State Department, a White House official told Axios.
- Huckabee said in his interview that the UK government's decision amounted to "discrimination against the Jewish people."
- "This is an irrational action ... if the UK is really interested in dealing with issues they feel like are wrong, where are the sanctions against North Korea, China, Russia?" Huckabee said.
- The UK has imposed many sanctions against Russia, North Korea and China over the years.
