New York Times: In late March, at the height of the war with Iran, Israel quietly approved more settlements in Judea and Samaria than ever at one time.

New York Times: In late March, at the height of the war with Iran, Israel quietly approved more settlements in Judea and Samaria than ever at one time.

Staff members at the United States Embassy in Jerusalem saw Israel's move to approve a large number of new settlements as an action that violates one of President Trump's explicit red lines for Israel - non-annexation of Judea and Samaria - and drafted an urgent report intended for policy makers in Washington.

That memo never reached Washington. It was shelved by David Milstein, a senior aide to Ambassador Mike Huckabee, according to three US officials briefed on the process.

Since taking office in April 2025, Mr. Milstein, 36, has repeatedly suppressed or significantly corrected embassy reports on Israeli activities to portray the Netanyahu government in a positive light, according to a dozen people who work with or interact with Milstein in both Jerusalem and Washington.