Full Breakdown
U.S. Draft Memo Condemning UK Settlement Sanctions Remains Unreleased
By Drooid · · How we work
Unreleased Draft Statement
In early September, U.S. officials in Jerusalem and Washington prepared a draft statement, dated September 8, that would have been attributed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The draft was never issued.
Political Context
The episode highlights a widening split within the American right and between senior U.S. diplomats and the White House. President Donald Trump has publicly opposed any annexation of the West Bank, while his administration has taken little concrete action to curb settlement expansion under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, a staunch settlement supporter, and his aide David Milstein—who helped shape the draft—have advocated for aggressive U.S. measures, including sanctions on the International Criminal Court.
Official Responses
A senior U.S. official told Reuters that the draft was not prepared in consultation with the State Department or the White House. The U.S. embassy redirected inquiries, including those from Huckabee and Milstein, to the State Department, which declined comment. When asked about the UK decision on September 8, Rubio said, “Obviously, we’re not going to do what the UK did. We saw their announcement today, but I don’t have any comment on it right now.”
Public Opinion Data
Polling shows declining U.S. support for Israel since the 2023 Gaza war. A June Quinnipiac University poll found 48 % of voters—and 66 % of Democrats—believe the United States is too supportive of Israel, up from 16 % and 20 % in 2017. A Pew Research Center poll from late March indicated that 57 % of Republicans aged 18-49 hold an unfavorable view of Israel, a rise from 50 % a year earlier.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Obviously, we’re not going to do what the UK did. We saw their announcement today, but I don’t have any comment on it right now,” — State Marco Rubio