Tensions rise between Trump and Netanyahu as US does not block sanctions on Israeli settlements

President Donald Trump’s administration has chosen not to oppose the United Kingdom’s initiative to impose new sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. According to Axios, the decision was confirmed by US officials and Western diplomats.

The British initiative, backed by 11 other Western countries, targets individuals and entities linked to the construction of Israeli settlements in the occupied territory. The measures also provide for restrictions on the import of goods produced in these settlements.

The fact that the White House did not intervene to halt the process is being interpreted as an indication of Donald Trump’s dissatisfaction with the policy of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in the West Bank.

London’s decision came after the Netanyahu government advanced a plan for a new settlement in the E1 area, one of the most sensitive parts of the West Bank. Critics warn that construction there could divide the West Bank and make it more difficult to establish a Palestinian state with territorial continuity.

The United Kingdom was joined by Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

In a joint statement, the 12 countries said they intended to impose restrictions at the national level and/or support European measures against trade in goods originating from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The E1 area has been at the center of international attention for many years. Successive US administrations, both Republican and Democratic, have traditionally opposed Israeli construction in this territory, arguing that it could undermine prospects for the creation of a Palestinian state.

The Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly condemned the measure taken by the United Kingdom. In response, Israel announced that it would close the British consulate in East Jerusalem, which is responsible for relations with the Palestinian Authority.

Tel Aviv also announced the expulsion of British diplomats and military officials participating in a Gaza task force led by the United States.

The developments signal a new diplomatic confrontation between Israel and its Western allies over the issue of settlements in the West Bank. The Trump administration’s decision not to block the British initiative could be a sign of Washington’s more critical stance toward the policies of the Netanyahu government.