Washington (QNN)- The Trump administration did not oppose the UK-led initiative to impose sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, Axios reported citing US officials and Western diplomats, in a signal of its frustration with the Israeli policy in the Palestinian territory.
The United Kingdom has announced a ban on the import of all goods produced by illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, in the country’s most significant policy since London’s historic recognition of Palestinian statehood last year.
In a speech to Parliament, UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband accused Israel of carrying out “ethnic cleansing” in Palestine and affirmed that it is official UK policy that the Israeli settlements rapidly expanding across the occupied West Bank are “unlawful”.
He said he did not believe “the British people want us supporting the occupation by accepting products from settlements in our shops”.
Miliband also announced tougher new restrictions on arms sales to Israel.
“I can also announce that we’re extending the existing global human rights regime such that it will enable swifter action to deter settlement expansion, including crucially seeking to prevent the development of E1,” Miliband added. E1, a proposed settlement in the West Bank, would divide the Palestinian territory in two and put an end to hopes for a two-state solution, he said.
Israel announced four “counter measures”, including banning 12 British MPs from entering Israel and closing the British consulate in Jerusalem, following his speech.
The UK’s trade ban on goods from illegal settlements comes amid an intensifying wave of Israeli settler pogroms on Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank and controversial settlement expansions that have prompted a UK-led debate on Europe-wide trade restrictions.
After Miliband’s speech, 12 countries shared a joint statement supporting the two-state solution and announcing their own intentions to impose restrictions on trade with illegal Israeli settlements.
France, the UK, Canada, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Portugal and Sweden called on the Israeli government to immediately halt the expansion of settlements.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham briefed President Trump ahead of the sanctions announcement, according to reports.
Two sources with knowledge of the call said Trump didn't push back or ask Burnham to change course.
US officials told their British counterparts they shared their concerns about the Israeli government's West Bank policy, even if they disagreed with these specific sanctions, sources say.
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. We were made aware that they are gonna make this decision. We heard their arguments as to why," Rubio said. "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."
On Tuesday, the White House distanced itself from comments US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee made to the BBC attacking the new sanctions.
The remarks "were not coordinated with the White House" or State Department, a White House official told Axios.
Huckabee claimed in his interview that the UK government's decision amounted to "discrimination against the Jewish people."
