Trump pledges end to US aid for Israel by year’s end

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday (3 November) that Washington will stop providing financial aid to Israel by year's end under an agreement reached with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Netanyahu and I have made a deal that we give Israel $4 billion a year, and we made a deal months ago that we're stopping, and they're fine with it because, you know, they've become a very successful country that are not in need, and we won't be paying any more to Israel," Trump told Fox News.

He added that Washington would still provide assistance if needed, describing Israel as a regional partner with whom the US has maintained "a tremendous relationship," with Tel Aviv being the smaller partner.

Military hardware, commercial arms sales

Trump clarified that the cutoff applies broadly to direct financial grants and material defense transfers. "You can consider it barter. You can consider military aid or cash. Look, we give them $4 billion of things and money, and they don't need it," he said.

The president maintained that ending foreign aid packages will not halt commercial weapons transactions, emphasizing that Israel remains free to purchase American defense equipment on the open market because the US produces "the greatest weapons in the world."

Deflecting progressive campaign criticism

Trump addressed the cutoff in response to inquiries regarding shifting attitudes among younger Americans and demands from progressive political figures to freeze military shipments to Israel.

"The left uses the $4 billion payment that everybody knows about, when it's no secret, as a signal of unfairness, and we can't allow that to happen," said Trump, arguing that the annual allocation had turned into a political target for critics.

Trump said Netanyahu initiated the proposal to phase out the aid after several years of bilateral discussions, adding that the Israeli leader recognized the subsidies had become a domestic "point of contention" that drew political scrutiny.

Israeli government officials have not commented on Trump's statements or confirmed any formal accord to terminate annual US assistance.

Source: Anadolu Ajansi (AA)