Sensitive diplomatic communications bound for Washington were allegedly blocked, delayed, or rewritten to present Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in a favorable light, according to an investigation published by The New York Times on October 8. The reporting centers on David Milstein, a 36-year-old senior adviser to US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, whose internal interventions reportedly altered key assessments regarding West Bank settlements, settler violence, and humanitarian operations in Gaza.
West Bank Settlement Expansion Reports Blocked in March
One of the most consequential interventions occurred in late March. Staff members at the US Embassy in Jerusalem viewed the move as a direct violation of Donald Trump’s stated opposition to West Bank annexation and drafted an urgent report for policy-makers in Washington. Three US officials told The New York Times that David Milstein blocked the transmission of that document, preventing it from reaching the capital.
Minimizing International Condemnation Over Land Purchases
This episode followed a February policy shift by the Netanyahu government that eased land purchases for Israelis in the West Bank—a decision widely condemned internationally as an acceleration of annexation. Two officials reported that David Milstein downplayed the global implications of the measure during internal discussions, framing it strictly as an internal domestic matter. These bureaucratic clashes unfolded against a backdrop of mounting international friction. In September, the United Kingdom, Canada, and France imposed sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, with London explicitly accusing certain settlers of participating in ethnic cleansing.
Altering Assessments of Settler Violence and Investigations
Throughout the spring, as violence surged across the West Bank, David Milstein allegedly obstructed reports detailing the inadequacy of Israeli countermeasures against militant settlers. Embassy staff ultimately dispatched a cable praising Israel’s enforcement efforts instead, as reported by The New York Times. In April, Israeli military officials publicly warned that unchecked settler violence risked sparking a fresh Palestinian uprising. Embassy personnel attempted to relay those warnings to Washington, but the final versions of those reports were allegedly suppressed by the senior adviser.
The internal friction also extended to accountability for the deaths of nine American citizens of Palestinian or Turkish descent killed by settlers or soldiers in the West Bank over a four-year period. In March, embassy personnel finalized an investigation concluding that most probes had stalled, that several cases had been closed without charges, and that zero indictments had been issued. Two officials stated that David Milstein preferred an alternative message asserting that Israel was properly investigating the incidents.
Congress Presses State Department over Investigation Handling
The handling of these investigations drew scrutiny from Capitol Hill, where a group of 30 members of Congress led by Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen pressed Secretary of State Marco Rubio for answers. On May 4, State Department official Paul D. Guaglianone responded to Senator Van Hollen, explaining that the embassy—operating with reduced staffing due to the conflict with Iran—was prioritizing security cooperation with Israel and the protection of Americans from Iranian attacks. Senator Van Hollen rejected that explanation, telling The New York Times that failing to demand accountability endangers more American citizens.
Rewriting Gaza Humanitarian Aid Cables
David Milstein allegedly rewrote a diplomatic cable concerning the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an entity backed by both Israel and the United States. During the summer of 2025, dozens of Palestinians were killed near its food distribution sites. American diplomats described the operation as chaotic and lethal, warning of further casualties. Individuals who reviewed the document and understand the editing process stated that David Milstein rewrote the dispatch to portray the foundation’s work as a success while omitting any mention of the fatalities.
The widening gulf between official embassy cables and public realities eventually prompted officials at the White House and the State Department to bypass normal reporting channels entirely. According to The New York Times, administration officials contacted diplomatic personnel in Jerusalem directly to secure an accurate assessment of conditions on the ground.
Ambassador Mike Huckabee Rejects Allegations
David Milstein joined the US Embassy in Jerusalem in April 2025 following Donald Trump’s reelection, after previously working for Senator Ted Cruz and Governor Ron DeSantis. As a senior adviser to Mike Huckabee, he oversees West Bank and Gaza portfolios alongside communications destined for Washington. Since his appointment, output from the embassy’s Palestinian affairs section has dropped sharply from multiple weekly cables to just a few per month, leaving some diplomats fearful that their findings are routinely blocked or rewritten.
Ambassador Mike Huckabee staunchly defended his aide, dismissing the investigation as entirely baseless and affirming his absolute confidence in the adviser’s unblemished integrity. The ambassador had previously offered public support in September following a Politico report regarding a wedding invitation sent by the adviser that requested gifts in American currency or Israeli shekels. Meanwhile, the State Department declined to comment beyond stating that its personnel remain focused on advancing Donald Trump’s America First agenda.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Embassy Reporting Controversy
When did David Milstein join the US Embassy in Jerusalem? David Milstein assumed his role as senior adviser to Ambassador Mike Huckabee in April 2025 following the reelection of Donald Trump.
Which officials led the congressional inquiry into the deaths of American citizens? Senator Chris Van Hollen led a coalition of 30 members of Congress who pressed Secretary of State Marco Rubio for information regarding the deaths of nine American citizens in the West Bank.
What specific organization was the subject of the rewritten humanitarian cable? The altered cable focused on the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an organization supported by the United States and Israel whose food distribution sites witnessed dozens of Palestinian fatalities.
