U.S. President Donald Trump has commented on sanctions imposed by Britain, France, Canada and other Western countries against Israeli settlements in the West Bank, saying he would speak with the relevant parties to understand the reasons behind the measures and their potential consequences.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he had seen the new measures and would discuss the issue with Israel and the countries involved to determine why the steps were taken at this particular time.
Notable Shift in the U.S. Position
Trump’s comments came amid reports that the U.S. administration did not object to the British decision during a phone call between Trump and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham. A Western official also said Trump did not ask Britain to delay implementation of the measures.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio likewise stopped short of condemning the British action, saying only that Trump had not formally commented on it.
The White House also distanced itself from remarks by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who described the sanctions as discriminatory against Jews and irrational. The administration said his comments were not coordinated with the White House or the State Department.
The developments point to growing U.S. concerns over some policies pursued by the Israeli government in the West Bank, particularly plans involving the E1 area, where successive U.S. administrations have opposed major settlement construction.
Britain Announces Unprecedented Sanctions
Britain announced a package of trade measures that includes a ban on imports of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, along with restrictions on arms exports that provide material support to settlement activity.
The measures were coordinated with Canada, France and nine other European countries.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband also adopted unusually strong language toward Israeli settlers, describing some as “terrorists” and accusing them of carrying out “ethnic cleansing,” marking a significant escalation in Britain’s rhetoric over settlement policies.
Israel Responds With Measures Against Britain
Israel reacted angrily to the Western measures and took diplomatic steps against Britain, including ordering the closure of the British Consulate in East Jerusalem and giving British diplomats a deadline to leave.
Israel also barred several British lawmakers from entering the country, including Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott, as tensions between the two governments continued to rise.
The developments come amid a broader deterioration in British-Israeli relations, driven by growing disagreements over Israeli settlement policies in the West Bank and the Israeli government’s approach toward the Palestinians.
