The US ambassador to the United Kingdom, Huckabee, said Washington could respond to London’s expected sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank and accused the UK Labour government of discriminating against Israel.
Huckabee likened the UK’s plan to “throwing a stone without thinking about where it will land.” While noting that the UK could take whatever steps it wanted as a sovereign country, Huckabee said the United States was also a sovereign country.
Huckabee argued that a potential US response could be implemented at the state level and claimed that some states could ban British companies from operating. He said such a step could have a major impact on the companies.
The UK’s settlement plan
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is expected to announce measures targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The planned sanctions may not impose financial restrictions on specific individuals or companies, but they could ban trade with companies operating in the settlements.
Miliband had previously described the E1 settlement project, which was said to aim to isolate East Jerusalem and separate the northern and southern parts of the West Bank, as a clear violation of international law.
Miliband said measures that could be taken against the seizure of Palestinian land were being discussed within the government and with allies, adding that further announcements on the issue could be made in the coming weeks.