In March 2026, Israel authorized a significant expansion of settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, marking the largest such approval to date. This development occurred amid ongoing tensions related to the conflict with Iran and came despite explicit warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump against annexation of West Bank territory. Officials at the United States Embassy in Jerusalem drafted a report highlighting the settlement expansion as a potential violation of U.S. policy, but the memorandum was blocked from reaching Washington, according to multiple U.S. officials familiar with the matter.

David Milstein, a senior aide to U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee in Jerusalem, is reported to have repeatedly altered or suppressed embassy communications to present the Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a more favorable light. Since assuming his post in April 2025, Mr. Milstein, 36, has been described by colleagues as exerting unprecedented control over the embassy’s diplomatic messaging. Sources within the embassy and in Washington say this has included redacting critical assessments of Israeli settlement policies and settler violence, often downplaying actions or failures by Israeli authorities.

For example, as incidents of settler violence escalated in the spring, embassy reports that suggested insufficient Israeli responses were revised to suggest that Israel was actively “cracking down” on attacks. Similarly, a detailed embassy report on the killing of Palestinian Americans was withheld amid congressional efforts to obtain accountability. Several current and former officials noted a sharp decline in the volume of cables from the embassy’s Palestinian affairs section following Mr. Milstein’s review process, with some staff reportedly reluctant to submit reports for fear of rejection or significant edits.

Mr. Milstein’s influence has drawn concern from career diplomats, some of whom worry that his actions distort the diplomatic record and complicate policymaking in Washington. Officials expressed frustration that critical information was altered or delayed, hindering a full understanding of conditions in the West Bank and Gaza. Senior figures in Washington, including within the White House, have reportedly raised issues about the accuracy of received reporting, though it remains unclear if these concerns have led to changes in U.S. policy.

Ambassador Huckabee, a known supporter of Israeli settlement expansion, has both supported and at times curtailed Mr. Milstein’s interventions. While the ambassador condemned certain settler attacks as acts of terrorism, he characterized broader settler violence as limited to a small faction. Officials said Mr. Milstein occasionally acted without Ambassador Huckabee’s direct approval, though the ambassador retains final sign-off on major communications. Both declined requests for interviews. In response to inquiries, Ambassador Huckabee dismissed the allegations as lacking factual basis and reaffirmed his confidence in Mr. Milstein’s integrity.

Mr. Milstein’s role as a gatekeeper of information is amplified by his close connections to conservative political figures in the United States and Israel. He is the stepson of right-wing radio host Mark Levin, an ally of both Mr. Trump and Mr. Netanyahu, and previously served as an aide to Senator Ted Cruz and as a staff member to former U.S. Ambassador David M. Friedman. Since April 2025, Mr. Milstein has overseen much of the embassy’s portfolio related to the West Bank and Gaza, including reviewing and amending official reports sent to Washington. According to embassy personnel, he has gone beyond the traditional responsibilities of a political adviser by extensively rewriting or blocking dispatches that cast the Israeli government in a negative light.

One notable incident involved embassy cables concerning a humanitarian tragedy in Gaza’s food distribution system, where dozens of Palestinians were killed near sites supported by a U.S.-Israeli initiative. Initial embassy assessments described the process as dangerously chaotic and prone to further casualties. Mr. Milstein reportedly recast these reports to emphasize success, omitting mention of the fatalities. The alteration sparked internal concern and led some White House and State Department officials to seek information through alternative channels, bypassing standard diplomatic procedures.

Mr. Milstein has also been reported to question colleagues about their loyalties in terms that raised discomfort, asking whether they were “pro-Israel” or “pro-Hamas,” contributing to an atmosphere of caution among staff. His partisan background and strong conservative affiliations have shaped perceptions of his tenure at the embassy.

Internationally, Israel’s accelerated settlement activities and recent legislation easing land purchases in the West Bank have drawn widespread condemnation. In February 2026, the Netanyahu government passed measures seen as advancing toward formal annexation, prompting countries such as Britain, Canada, and France to impose sanctions on settlement-related entities, citing human rights concerns. Britain accused some settlers of engaging in “ethnic cleansing.”

Despite President Trump’s stated opposition to annexation declared a year prior, his administration has taken a reserved stance on settlement expansion, reaffirming opposition only briefly and otherwise maintaining a close alliance with Israel’s right-wing government. The diplomatic challenges posed by embassy reporting practices under Mr. Milstein highlight tensions within U.S. policy circles over Israel’s actions in the occupied territories and raise broader questions about the integrity of information flowing through official channels to Washington.