Rubio: America will not follow Britain's lead in restricting trade
Anadolu3 min read
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At a time when Israeli settler attacks in the occupied West Bank are escalating and an increasing number of Western countries are announcing measures to restrict trade with settlements, the United States has confirmed that it will not follow Britain's lead in this path, a stance that reflects a clear divergence between Washington and a number of its Western allies regarding how to deal with Israeli settlement activity.
This came in press statements made by Rubio in the city of Miami, Florida, shortly before his departure for Colombia.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that his country will continue to trade with Israeli settlers in the West Bank, confirming that Washington "will not do what Britain has done," coinciding with the announcement by 12 Western countries to impose restrictions on the trade of goods with settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Responding to a question about the decision of 12 countries, including Britain, to restrict trade with Israeli settlers in the West Bank, Rubio said: "Obviously, we are not going to do what Britain has done."
He added that his country does not intend to follow Britain's example in taking measures against settlers, noting: "We have seen the announcement issued today, but I have no comment on it at this time."
Rubio indicated that the United States is concerned about any potential escalation in the West Bank.
He continued: "We do not want to see an escalation in violence, conflict, or tension in the West Bank at a very sensitive time for the region."
Earlier on Tuesday, the foreign ministers of 12 Western countries announced the imposition of restrictions on the trade of goods with settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
This came in a joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom regarding the two-state solution.
Since its formation in late 2022, the current Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu has approved the establishment of 104 new settlements, while effectively establishing 160 agricultural settlement outposts in the West Bank, according to Palestinian data.
During the first half of 2026, settlers carried out 3,488 attacks in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian government's Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission.
These attacks resulted in the killing of 17 Palestinians and the displacement of 26 Bedouin and pastoral communities, either partially or completely, in addition to the establishment of 42 new settlement outposts.
About 750,000 Israeli settlers live in 194 settlements and 400 settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
The West Bank is witnessing an escalation in settler terrorism and Israeli army raids, coinciding with the continuation of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023.
Israel has occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 1967. The international community considers Israeli settlements built on occupied territories illegal under international law, a position rejected by Tel Aviv.
In 1948, Israel was established on Palestinian lands occupied by armed Zionist gangs, which committed massacres and caused the displacement of at least 750,000 Palestinians, before Tel Aviv occupied the rest of the territories and refused to withdraw from them.
