Overview

• U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Washington has never asked Israel not to apply sovereignty in the West Bank, telling Channel 14 that the U.S. will not tell Israel what to do.
• In a BBC interview, Huckabee called the European-led push for unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state a violation of the Oslo Accords with "disastrous consequences" and said the move may prompt Israel to extend sovereignty to additional areas.
• Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar labeled recognition plans by countries such as France and the UK a "tremendous mistake," warning they could destabilize the region and drive Israel toward unilateral steps.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu removed a planned Cabinet discussion on annexation from the agenda, with reports citing an unusual message from the United Arab Emirates and separate accounts of U.S. concerns.
• Several governments, including France and Britain, intend to recognize a Palestinian state on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, as Israel advances settlement projects such as E1 near Jerusalem that critics say undermine a contiguous Palestinian state.