In early September, US officials prepared but never released a draft statement attributed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to Reuters, the memo condemned plans by the UK, France, and Canada to block imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Key Takeaways
The US drafted but did not release a memo condemning the UK, France, and Canada for planning to block imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. According to Reuters, the draft statement was driven by David Milstein, an aide to US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
- The draft statement described the countries' actions as hostile measures contributing to antisemitism.
- The White House and State Department's senior leadership did not support the statement.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio refrained from outright criticism during a press conference in Florida.
- The episode highlights growing ideological splits within the American right over support for Israel.
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▼Source Claims Check
1 Difference FoundAll 3 publishers report consistent facts across 1 key claim. 1 point of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasons For The Draft Statement's Rejection | 1 Difference | Reuters reports both reasons for rejection. | ▼ |
| Draft Statement Condemning Uk, France, And Canada | Broad Agreement | US drafted but did not release a memo. |
Reasons For The Draft Statement's Rejection
▼Reuters reports both reasons for rejection.
Draft Statement Condemning Uk, France, And Canada
Broad AgreementUS drafted but did not release a memo.
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The document, dated September 8 and driven by David Milstein, an influential aide to US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, proposed that Rubio describe the countries' actions as a series of hostile measures against Israel that contribute to antisemitism. The draft statement read: "These tactics unacceptably draw from the playbook of the antisemitic boycotts, divestments and sanctions movement."
The White House and State Department's senior leadership did not support the statement, according to three people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity. Instead, Rubio refrained from outright criticism during a press conference in Florida before traveling to Latin America.
This episode illustrates a widening divide between the White House and Trump's senior diplomats in Israel about how best to respond to the expansion of Israeli settlements under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government. It also highlights a growing ideological split within the American right over support for Israel, with polling showing younger Republicans holding an increasingly unfavorable opinion of Washington's closest Middle East ally.
President Donald Trump earlier this year expressed his opposition to settlement expansion, a growing source of friction with Israel's Arab neighbors, but his administration has put little pressure on Israel to change its policy. That has at times put him at odds with Huckabee, a Baptist minister who is a staunch supporter of settlements and refers to the West Bank by its biblical name, Judea and Samaria.
How this summary was created
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