How an unknown embassy aide shaped US-'Israel' policy: RS

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Responsible Statecraft
24 Sep 2025 15:12
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Aides rarely shape national policy, but David Milstein, while serving under Ambassador Mike Huckabee, is an exception, as he has blocked cables, altered human rights reports, and pushed pro-"Israel" language within the US State Department.

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Screencap from a CPAC panel featuring David Milstein on August 29, 2022 (Facebook)

In recent months, David Milstein, a senior advisor at the US embassy in al-Quds, has exerted significant influence over American policy toward "Israel".

According to a September 24 article by Responsible Statecraft, though Milstein's formal title places him as an aide to US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, multiple current and former officials describe him as a central figure in shaping reporting, messaging, and policy that consistently favors Israeli positions.

Milstein’s role came into sharp focus earlier this year, when embassy officials drafted a cable warning Washington about looming famine in Gaza after "Israel" blocked humanitarian aid. However, the US-based policy magazine states that the cable never reached the capital. Instead, Milstein authored his own version, praising the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation despite widespread criticism from aid groups. Weeks later, famine was formally declared in Gaza.

Responsible Statecraft writes that Milstein, as Huckabee’s senior advisor, has positioned himself as a gatekeeper within the embassy. Officials say he intercepts cables, edits reports, and reshapes official statements to align more closely with pro-"Israel" narratives. His authority, though informal, has left diplomats concerned about the integrity of information reaching Washington.

Blocking reports and promoting pro-'Israel' narratives

Within the State Department, Milstein has been described as an “enforcer” of pro-"Israel" positions. He has challenged colleagues he viewed as insufficiently supportive of "Israel", altered human rights reporting to minimize criticism of Israeli policies, and advocated controversial terminology such as referring to the West Bank as “Judea and Samaria.”

Responsible Statecraft states that Milstein’s influence was highlighted in July, when Shahed Ghoreishi, the State Department’s lead press officer for Israeli-Palestinian affairs, was abruptly dismissed. Ghoreishi said that Milstein used his political connections in Washington to engineer his removal after disputes over language regarding forced displacement in Gaza.

While the State Department denied those claims, officials confirmed that Milstein’s interventions have left many career diplomats wary of crossing him.

Milstein’s approach mirrors that of Aryeh Lightstone, a former aide to Ambassador David Friedman during Trump’s first term. Both acted as gatekeepers, blocking cables that criticized Israeli settlements or raised concerns about settler violence. Officials have described this dynamic as unusual, since such roles typically facilitate rather than restrict reporting.

Human rights reporting and internal dissent

Responsible Statecraft wrote that during Trump’s second term, embassy staff are sayomh the culture of fear intensified. Raising objections to policy decisions was frequently interpreted as insubordination. Milstein, drawing on sources criticized for pro-"Israel" bias, removed large portions of critical content from the State Department’s annual human rights report on Israel and the Palestinian Territories. The revised document focused largely on Palestinian abuses and was drastically shorter than previous editions.

Milstein’s behind-the-scenes maneuvering underscores how individuals in relatively modest positions can influence the course of US-Israeli relations. By filtering embassy communications, reshaping policy language, and leveraging political connections, he has consolidated influence within the State Department and raised alarms among career diplomats.

Responsible Statecraft quotes one senior official who said, “Raising concerns is considered insubordination. That language is clear from the top down.”