US Stays Quiet as Allies Sanction Israeli Settlements — SkimNews
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- UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the British government "agrees that there is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank," announcing sanctions against companies and individuals supporting settlement expansion that will take six to nine months to implement
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday the US won't issue its own sanctions and shared allies' goal of "stability" in the West Bank, while President Trump only addressed the issue when pressed by reporters Wednesday, saying he was "looking into it"
- US Ambassador Mike Huckabee is "totally out on his own" with his threats against the UK, according to an administration official, and his statements were not coordinated with the White House or State Department
- Israel retaliated against the UK sanctions by closing the British consulate in Jerusalem, a politically charged move coming as Prime Minister Netanyahu's government faces October elections
- The administration is sidestepping the issue ahead of November midterms, the Trump-Xi summit later this month, and oil prices climbing over $100 per barrel for the first time in six weeks as the Middle East conflict widens
- Jared Kushner said Sunday the US is "working through some political issues in Israel" because they "have a crazy election," characterizing Netanyahu's government as "a little irrational in certain regards"
Why it matters: The administration's calculated silence reflects a deliberate balancing act: it cannot afford to break with Israel while waging a joint war against Iran, yet does not want to alienate the UK, France, and Canada ahead of November midterms, the Xi summit, and $100+/barrel oil that is already squeezing Republicans on energy prices. Huckabee's freelancing exposes that even the ambassador post isn't fully aligned with White House messaging, while the six-to-nine-month implementation window gives all parties breathing room to manage fallout.
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