US Rejects UK Move to Ban Trade With Israeli Settlements

The United States has rejected calls to follow Britain in imposing trade restrictions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying Washington will "obviously not" adopt the UK's approach.

Rubio's comments come after Britain announced measures targeting trade and commercial activity connected to Israeli settlements, joining France and Canada in taking action over the expansion of settlements and violence against Palestinians.

The UK government says its decision is intended to oppose settlement expansion and support the possibility of a future two-state solution. British officials have also accused Israeli settlers of contributing to what they describe as the displacement and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in parts of the occupied West Bank.

The British measures include restrictions on goods originating from Israeli settlements and action against companies involved in settlement-related activities. Although the economic impact is expected to be relatively limited because of the small scale of settlement exports, the decision carries significant diplomatic implications.

France and Canada have announced similar measures, signalling growing concern among Western governments over Israel's settlement policies and the future of the West Bank.

The United States, however, has chosen a different course.

Rubio made clear that Washington would not replicate the British policy, highlighting a continuing difference between the US and several of its closest allies over how to respond to Israel's settlement expansion.

The issue has become increasingly contentious as Israel continues to expand settlements in the West Bank. Critics argue that the growth of settlements threatens the territorial viability of a future Palestinian state, while Israel has strongly rejected international criticism of its settlement policies.

The latest measures have also triggered a sharp response from Israel. Israeli authorities have announced retaliatory diplomatic measures against Britain, including plans to close the British consulate in East Jerusalem and impose entry restrictions on a number of British officials.

The dispute reflects a widening divide among Western governments over their approach to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

While Britain, France and Canada have opted for targeted economic and diplomatic pressure, Washington has indicated that it does not intend to join those measures.

The disagreement comes amid heightened international concern over the conflict in Gaza, continued settlement expansion and the deteriorating prospects for a negotiated Israeli-Palestinian settlement.