WASHINGTON, November 4 – US President Donald Trump says the United States will stop providing billions of dollars in annual military assistance to Israel by the end of 2026.
Trump made the announcement on Tuesday during an interview with Fox News. He said he had reached an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the funding.
However, the United States would continue selling weapons to Israel and could still provide assistance if the country needed it.
Trump argued that Israel had become strong enough to manage without the financial support. He also said the aid had become a political issue for Republicans, with critics questioning why Washington continued providing such large amounts of money to a foreign government.
Existing US-Israel Aid Agreement Runs Until 2028
The announcement raises questions about the future of the existing US-Israel military assistance arrangement.
Under the current agreement, Washington provides Israel with US$3.8 billion in military assistance each year. The 10-year memorandum of understanding is scheduled to run until September 2028.
Trump did not explain how the funding would be stopped earlier than planned. It also remains unclear which parts of the existing assistance programme would be affected.
Congress also plays an important role in approving the annual funding. Therefore, any major change would involve further decisions on the US government’s spending arrangements.
Political Pressure Behind the Announcement
Trump’s comments came as Americans voted in the 2026 midterm elections.
The issue of US military support for Israel has become increasingly controversial, particularly following the war in Gaza, which began in 2023.
Public support for Israel has weakened among some American voters, especially Democrats. A Quinnipiac University poll in June found that 48% of voters and 66% of Democrats believed the United States was too supportive of Israel.
Trump also referred to Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who has criticised unconditional US military assistance to Israel.
The president said he wanted to remove an issue that Democrats could use to attack Republicans politically.
Israeli Opposition Questions the Decision
The announcement also drew criticism in Israel.
Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot questioned why the country’s security establishment and citizens appeared to be learning about a major change in US-Israel relations through the media.
He argued that the handling of the issue raised concerns about Netanyahu’s leadership and the country’s long-standing security relationship with Washington.
Netanyahu had previously spoken about gradually reducing Israel’s dependence on American military funding. However, Trump’s announcement suggests a much faster timeline.
What Happens Next?
The future of US military assistance to Israel remains uncertain.
Although Trump said the funding would end after this year, he did not provide details on how the decision would be implemented.
The existing agreement is still in place, and Congress has a role in approving the funds. The announcement could therefore lead to further discussions between Washington and Tel Aviv over future defence cooperation.
The development marks a potentially significant change in the long-standing military relationship between the two countries.
Source : BERNAMA | Rewritten By Minutesmy
