The September 8 draft, first seen by Reuters, was reportedly driven by David Milstein, a senior aide to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, and was intended to be issued under Rubio’s name.
The document warned that the three countries’ proposed import bans constituted “hostile measures against Israel that contribute to antisemitism,” and likened them to the tactics of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Three sources familiar with the matter said the memo was not approved by senior leadership at the White House or the State Department, and that it was prepared without consultation from those offices.
When asked about the sanctions plan on September 8 in Florida, Rubio declined to comment, saying, “Obviously, we’re not going to do what the UK did… I don’t have any comment on it right now,” after which he departed for a Latin‑America trip.
The episode underscores a growing split between the Trump administration’s senior diplomats in Israel, who have taken a hard‑line stance on settlements, and the White House, which has been more cautious about confronting allies over the issue.
It also reflects an ideological divide within the Republican Party: polling shows younger Republicans increasingly view Israel unfavorably, with 57 % of voters aged 18‑49 expressing an unfavorable opinion of Israel, up from 50 % a year earlier, while older GOP voters remain largely supportive.
President Donald Trump has voiced opposition to settlement expansion, though his administration has not pressured Israel to change its policy. Huckabee, a staunch settlement supporter, has publicly condemned settler‑related violence but continues to refer to the West Bank as “Judea and Samaria.”
The broader context includes the United Nations and most of the international community deeming the settlements illegal under the laws of military occupation, a position Israel rejects, calling the territory disputed. Violence by some Jewish settlers against Palestinians has risen sharply this year, amid the rapid expansion of settlements overseen by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right‑wing government.