US remains silent as Britain bans West Bank settlement imports
BBC reported on 9 September that the United States has not publicly condemned Britain’s new sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, a stance that comes as Israel warned it would retaliate diplomatically and as debate over the policy continued within Washington. Earlier in September, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced a ban on goods produced in West Bank settlements, joining several European nations in the move. The announcement, reported by NPR and AP, also noted that the United States had warned of possible repercussions.
Israel responded by closing the British consulate in East Jerusalem and suspending joint projects, according to BBC. The policy shift followed earlier British statements about tightening restrictions on settlement-linked products, which Israel’s foreign minister said would provoke a response.