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Britain's announcement of sanctions on Israeli settlements and a ban on arms exports and goods 'materially contributing to the occupation' has sparked a furious response from Israel, which closed its UK consulate in East Jerusalem. UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband accused settlers and, implicitly, the Israeli government of tolerating what he described as abuses against Palestinians. BBC analysis notes that the United States' response to the UK's West Bank sanctions has been notably muted, which correspondents suggest may reflect simmering Washington frustration with Israel's settlement policy rather than indifference. The subdued US reaction has fueled speculation about widening transatlantic differences over how allies should respond to settlement expansion and settler violence.