US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he had reached a deal with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end US military aid to Israel after the end of the year.
Mr Trump told Fox News that the agreement was reached months ago and that he had a “tremendous relationship” with Israel.
“Now, as far as paying Israel, ‘Bibi’ 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,” Mr Trump said. “They’re fine with it.”
He said the US would help Israel in the future if it needed assistance.
Mr Trump made the announcement on the morning
Mr Trump made the announcement on the morning of the US midterm elections, as he sought to persuade voters to support his Republican Party amid his historically low approval ratings.
Tuesday’s results will determine control of Congress for the remaining two years of his term. If Democrats regain power of the House of Representatives or the Senate, they could constrain Mr Trump’s legislative agenda and launch investigations into his administration’s actions.
On Monday, Mr Trump described the election as “the most important midterm, I believe, in our lifetime”.
The announcement regarding military aid comes amid declining
The announcement regarding military aid comes amid declining support for Israel among Democrats and parts of Mr Trump’s own Republican base. Polls show a substantial shift in American public opinion on Israel and US policy towards the country.
Military aid has come under particular scrutiny since the war in Gaza, where more than 74,600 people have been killed.
Mr Trump linked his decision to criticism from Democrats and left-wing politicians, singling out Abdul El-Sayed, the Egyptian American US Senate candidate in Michigan.
Why should we suffer the slings from lunatics
“Why should we suffer the slings from lunatics like El-Sayed when they don’t need it? It’s a bad talking point,” he said.
Mr El-Sayed has described Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide and called for an end to US military aid to the country. If he wins, he would be the first Muslim Senator.
He has said US funds are better spent on domestic priorities, including education and health. His message has resonated with voters, particularly younger Americans.
Mr Trump has repeatedly referred to Mr El-Sayed
Mr Trump has repeatedly referred to Mr El-Sayed as a “jihadist lunatic” during the campaign.
“Because they don’t need it,” Mr Trump said of ending the aid, adding that Mr Netanyahu had suggested the move.
Military funding for Israel is bound by a 10-year agreement, signed under the administration of Barack Obama.
The accord provides a yearly $3.8 billion in US military aid to Israel until 2028.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the most
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the most powerful pro-Israel lobby in the US, said it backed a new US-Israel military aid agreement between the two allies.
“We support the ongoing discussions between the United States and Israel on a new Memorandum of Understanding that would further strengthen the US-Israel partnership that benefits both countries,” the group wrote on X.
Last month, Aipac said it would no longer endorse candidates or make direct campaign contributions.
Instead, it would continue operating through its United
Instead, it would continue operating through its United Democracy Project committee, known as a super Pac, which is allowed to raise unlimited amounts for campaign advertising but is not allowed to co-ordinate with candidates.
On Tuesday Mr Trump said Israel could still buy weapons and military equipment.
“Oh yeah, they could buy weapons,” he said. “They can buy whatever they want.”
Experts noted that in practice, the move could mean moving away from giving Israel direct military grants to increasing the integration of the two countries’ defence industries.
Section 219 of the National Defence Authorisation Act passed in the House in July established a Pentagon office to increase joint weapons production and integrate Israeli technology into the US military, including drones, missile defence, artificial intelligence and cyber security.
They’re not really cutting aid, just reprogramming
“They’re not really cutting aid, just reprogramming it as ‘joint projects’ and hiding it in the defence budget,” Matt Duss, vice president at the Centre for International Policy, wrote in a post on X.
“Americans will be paying more with even less Congressional oversight. What’s actually notable here is Trump acknowledging that aid to Israel is a political loser.”
