US President Donald Trump has announced plans to end approximately USD 4 billion in annual financial assistance to Israel by the end of this year, arguing that the country has become prosperous enough to fund its own defence needs. The announcement has drawn criticism from Israel’s Democratic Party Chairman Yair Golan, who described the proposed move as a severe blow to the country’s security.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News Trump said Washington would discontinue the assistance at the end of the year.
“We were giving them $4 billion — we are –, but it gets cut off at the end of the year,” he said.
Explaining the decision, Trump said Israel’s strong economy meant it no longer needed financial support from the United States to purchase weapons.
“They don’t need it,” he said, describing Israel as “a very thriving country”.
Golan, who belongs to the anti-Netanyahu opposition bloc, criticised the proposed withdrawal, blaming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to protect Israel’s long-standing security partnership with Washington.
In a post on X, Golan said the decision came at a critical time, when Israel was facing huge defence expenses following a prolonged war and needed to replenish its military stockpiles.
“Precisely at a time when Israel’s defense expenditures have reached enormous proportions, when Israel needs to replenish its offensive weapons stockpiles, and when its air defense capabilities have eroded after such a prolonged war–Netanyahu chalks up yet another colossal failure on his record,” he said.
Calling the proposed end to American assistance “a severe blow to Israel’s security and to the quality of life in the country”, Golan argued that the financial burden of meeting the country’s defence requirements would ultimately fall on ordinary Israelis.
“The halt in American aid is a severe blow to Israel’s security and to the quality of life in the country, because funding security needs at such a critical juncture will fall solely on the Israeli public,” he said.
Taking another swipe at Netanyahu, Golan added, “A responsible prime minister would fight to increase American aid, not dismantle it. Netanyahu is deepening the security and economic crisis and endangering Israel’s future.”
US-Israel military assistance agreement
The announcement comes amid the existing US-Israel security assistance agreement, which provides approximately USD 3.8 billion in annual military assistance through 2028, according to Fox News. The agreement has been a central part of the two countries’ longstanding defence partnership.
Netanyahu had previously indicated that he wanted Israel to gradually reduce its dependence on American military assistance over the next decade, according to his interview with CBS News’ 60 Minutes.
The latest development also comes amid growing tensions over Washington’s approach towards Iran. According to Axios, Netanyahu urged Trump to launch fresh military strikes against Iran immediately after Tuesday’s US midterm elections, amid Israeli concerns over the US administration’s continued pursuit of a diplomatic solution with Tehran.
Meanwhile, Israel’s opposition parties have moved to consolidate their position against Netanyahu. Leaders of the ‘Change and Repair’ opposition parties have formally backed Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot as their candidate for prime minister.
The alliance has agreed to recommend Eisenkot to President Isaac Herzog to form the country’s 38th government, signalling its push for an immediate change in leadership.
(With ANI inputs)
