Story perspectives

UK Sanctions Israel West Bank Settlements, Trump Stays Silent

9/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced sanctions on Israeli West Bank settlements.
U.S. President Donald Trump did not object to the sanctions during his call with Burnham.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States will not join the sanctions but seeks stability.
Israel ordered the British consulate in East Jerusalem closed and expelled its diplomats.
Israel barred twelve British individuals, including Jeremy Corbyn, from entering the country.

History

Historical Context

UN General Assembly's 1975 Resolution 3379, passed 134-12-39, labeled Zionism a form of racism and spurred diplomatic boycotts. Decades of similar UN condemnations, from the 1947 partition plan to recurring Security Council calls for withdrawal, have kept the issue alive. Today UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s West Bank settlement sanctions echo that boycott legacy, while U.S. officials again decline participation.

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Story summary

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced sanctions on Israeli West Bank settlements.
U.S. President Donald Trump did not object to the sanctions during his call with Burnham.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States will not join the sanctions but seeks stability.
Israel ordered the British consulate in East Jerusalem closed and expelled its diplomats.
Israel barred twelve British individuals, including Jeremy Corbyn, from entering the country.

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