The UK announced on Tuesday, September 8, that it would impose sanctions against individuals and entities involved in building settlements in the West Bank. The move came after the Israeli government decided to proceed with a new settlement in the sensitive E1 area.
The new settlement would divide the West Bank and prevent territorial contiguity in any future Palestinian state.
International support and US stance
Several countries backed the UK in its decision, including Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
The US - long-time Israeli ally - has now revealed that it was briefed about the move before the announcement. Axios has reported that two sources familiar with the call said Trump did not push back or ask UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to change course.
US officials respond
US 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," he told reporters. "We were made aware that they are gonna make this decision. We heard their arguments as to why. 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."
Also on Tuesday, the White House distanced itself from comments US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee made to the BBC attacking the new sanctions. Huckabee told the broadcaster that the UK government's decision amounted to "discrimination against the Jewish people." A White House official told Axios that his remarks "were not coordinated with the White House" or State Department.
Israeli retaliation
In response to the UK's move, Israel 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 US-led Gaza task force and terminated a British military training mission in the West Bank.
