Thirteen Republican state attorneys general sent a sharp warning letter this week to the British and Dutch ambassadors in Washington. The prosecutors are threatening economic retaliation against companies from both countries if they don’t reverse new sanctions imposed on Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.
In the letter, the attorneys general argue that Israel’s ‘settlement’ policy is an “internal” matter and that foreign countries have no right to interfere. They emphasize that the European sanctions harm American economic interests. The prosecutors warn the move could lead to disqualifying British and Dutch companies from government contracts and bids in the United States, and even force states to divest existing investments from them.
The American demand comes after Britain and the Netherlands announced the sanctions jointly with ten other countries. Despite the letter’s tough tone, political sources estimate the chances of following through on the threats are limited, partly due to declining American public support for Jewish communities.
The move also poses complex practical and political challenges, since counter-sanctions could hurt American businesses that maintain close trade ties with Britain and the Netherlands. Domestically, the issue reflects political divisions in the United States—while the Democratic Party tends to criticize Israel’s policy, President Donald Trump and Vice President Vance emphasize the close alliance with Israel.