US ambassador says his country likely to react to UK restrictions on Israel

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has warned that Washington would respond if the UK proceeds with expected trade sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Speaking to the BBC, Huckabee said he believed “without a doubt there will be” a US reaction to the measures, which could come at both the federal and state levels, Caliber.Az reports.

He said taking “something like this with a partner, Israel” could have a “huge economic impact on British businesses,” adding that UK companies could potentially be “banned” from doing business “in a number of states” across the US.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke by phone with US President Donald Trump on Monday, during which Burnham stressed the importance of a two-state solution in the Middle East.

However, an official account of the conversation released by 10 Downing Street did not say whether Burnham briefed Trump on the expected sanctions.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov