Netanyahu Describes End of US Military Aid to Israel as Shift Toward Bilateral Partnership
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office described the planned termination of US military aid to Israel as a transition from a relationship based on military assistance to one founded on partnership between the two countries, saying the move reflects the strength and evolution of bilateral ties.
Tel Aviv: According to Raaz News | In a statement issued on Friday, Netanyahu’s office said that “Israel today has a strong and stable economy,” adding that the transition from military assistance to partnership, led by Netanyahu and Trump, “reflects the strength and development of relations between the two countries.”
The statement followed Trump’s announcement on November 3 that he had reached an agreement with Netanyahu to end US military assistance to Israel by the end of the current year.
US military aid to Israel amounts to approximately $4 billion annually, while the existing military assistance agreement between the two countries was originally scheduled to remain in effect until 2028.
Netanyahu’s office said US military assistance to Israel had always enjoyed broad support from both the Republican and Democratic parties, adding that Israel had used the assistance to defend itself and confront enemies threatening the United States and the West.
Surprise Decision
Israel’s public broadcaster reported that Trump’s unexpected decision, announced alongside the US midterm congressional elections, caused “surprise” within Israel’s Defense Ministry and military leadership.
The announcement to halt military assistance coincided with a major electoral setback for the Republican Party and the US president in the midterm elections, in which Democrats made significant gains.
The development also comes amid political changes in Israel following the Knesset elections, in which Netanyahu failed to secure the majority required to form a government.
Meanwhile, political efforts are underway to appoint opposition leader and former Israeli military chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government.
An academic study published last year found that the United States had provided Israel with at least $21.7 billion in military assistance since the outbreak of the war on Gaza, covering the administrations of both Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican President Donald Trump.