Muted US response to UK's West Bank sanctions may reflect simmering frustration
A diplomatic standoff between Israel and a dozen European nations reveals how far Trump's frustration with Netanyahu has quietly eroded America's reflexive role as Israel's shield.
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Trump appears unwilling to come out to bat for Netanyahu currently.”
Trump appears unwilling to come out to bat for Netanyahu currently.
Trump's reluctance to defend Netanyahu publicly signals a meaningful rupture in what was assumed to be an unconditional alliance.
In context
Meanwhile, Trump wants progress on his Gaza peace initiative, involving disarmament of Hamas and Israeli military withdrawal. Netanyahu has publicly rejected the plan in its current formulation. Officially, the State Department referred me to Rubio's comments in Miami in relation to the UK announcement. But all told, Trump appears unwilling to come out to bat for Netanyahu currently. This has extended to him so far not endorsing Netanyahu in the upcoming Israeli election. The administration, aware of splits within Trump's base of support on Israel, has also itself grown irritated at the extent of settler violence in the West Bank, given the lack of action by the Israeli government to meaning…
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Batting for Israel against Europe over West Bank settlements seems to be, for Trump, juice that is not worth the squeeze.
In context
West Bank violence against Palestinians is frequently the subject of protests from Trump's Gulf Arab allies - the countries mediating on Gaza, who Trump needs to pressure Hamas. They wonder how the US can draw concessions from the Israelis in relation to this if it can't on settler violence in the West Bank. Trump eyes a legacy prize in both defeating Iran and moving forward with his Gaza peace plan - so batting for Israel against Europe over West Bank settlements seems to be, for Trump - so far, at least - juice that is not worth the squeeze.
Batting for Israel against Europe over West Bank settlements seems to be, for Trump, - so far, at least - juice that is not worth the squeeze.
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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.
Rubio's refusal to endorse or criticise the UK move captures Washington's deliberate distance from a close ally's significant policy action.
In context
But as Tuesday wore on, Washington's response was notably muted. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asked about the UK move by reporters on the way to Colombia, 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." He added that Britain had notified the administration ahead of time (most likely during a phone call Trump had with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Monday) and said the US shared "the goal of stability" at a tense time in the region and didn't "want to see some uptick in violence… in the West Bank".
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The administration has grown irritated at the extent of settler violence in the West Bank, given the lack of action by the Israeli government to meaningfully punish it — and this is embarrassing for the White House.
Israeli inaction over settler violence has created a domestic political liability for the White House among Trump's own fractured support base.
In context
Officially, the State Department referred me to Rubio's comments in Miami in relation to the UK announcement. But all told, Trump appears unwilling to come out to bat for Netanyahu currently. This has extended to him so far not endorsing Netanyahu in the upcoming Israeli election. The administration, aware of splits within Trump's base of support on Israel, has also itself grown irritated at the extent of settler violence in the West Bank, given the lack of action by the Israeli government to meaningfully punish it. This is embarrassing for the White House.
The administration has grown irritated at the extent of settler violence in the West Bank, given the lack of action by the Israeli government to meaningfully punish it — and this is embarrassing for the White House.
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At critical moments when Trump tried to reach a deal with Tehran, Netanyahu escalated fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon — moves with the potential to derail US diplomacy.
In context
Trump's biggest foreign policy priority currently is trying to prevent the crisis worsening in the Strait of Hormuz, now the focal point of his stalemated war with Iran. His joint attack with the Israelis has left numerous friction points in his complex relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. At critical moments when Trump tried to reach a deal with Tehran, Netanyahu escalated fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel has said it was acting against threats to security, but the moves had the potential to derail US diplomacy.
At critical moments when Trump tried to reach a deal with Tehran, Netanyahu escalated fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon Israel has said it was acting against threats to security, but the — moves had with the potential to derail US diplomacy.
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