President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio decline to condemn UK sanctions on West Bank settlements
President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have not yet condemned the United Kingdom and other nations for imposing sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. While the administration has historically supported Israel, the lack of initial condemnation from the administration suggests a level of recognition regarding the problematic nature of settler violence and extremist actions within the territory. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that the administration does not want to see destabilizing actions in the West Bank, as it could impact progress on the 20-point plan and the Board of Peace. He stated that while the administration is not taking the same actions as the UK, they were aware of the UK's decision and heard their arguments. President Trump expressed a reserved tone regarding the sanctions, stating he would be speaking to Israel. He noted that he understands the situation but wants to find out why the sanctions occurred so suddenly. Former US Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro suggested that the administration's lack of condemnation gives President Trump leverage to influence Benjamin Netanyahu's policies before the upcoming election.
Sources
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Trump administration offers rare muted response on new sanctions against Israel
CNN
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UK sanctions on West Bank settlers are the right step | Letters
The Guardian
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Israel will never stop me speaking up for Palestine
Al Jazeera