Trump says US will end military aid to Israel by the end of this year
US president makes surprise election day announcement, saying country does not ‘need’ $4bn annual payment
TL;DR
- Donald Trump announced the US will end military aid to Israel by the end of the year.
- The aid package amounts to nearly $4 billion annually.
- Trump claimed Israel does not 'need' the aid and suggested it would be replaced by arms sales.
- He indicated the decision was influenced by criticism of US foreign policy, citing figures like Abdul El-Sayed.
- Trump stated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had approached him about tapering off aid over a couple of years.
- Israeli officials and opposition leaders expressed surprise and concern over the announcement, viewing it as damaging to the US-Israel relationship.
- The announcement comes after Netanyahu's party lost its majority in recent elections.
- The aid primarily consists of foreign military financing grants, including for F-35 fighter jets and missile defence programmes.
- The timing of the announcement appeared to be linked to the US midterm elections and shifting public opinion on support for Israel.