Netanyahu Plans to Phase Out US Military Aid
World
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced plans to completely phase out the $3.8 billion annual U.S. military aid over the next decade. Amid rising anti-Israel sentiment in the United States and Washington's record-breaking spending on the conflict, Tel Aviv is choosing a path toward full defense autonomy.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview with CBS News, issued a high-profile statement regarding the necessity of gradually ending U.S. military aid within the next ten years. According to the politician, the process of phasing out the $3.8 billion annual grants could begin "right now," without waiting for a change in the composition of the U.S. Congress.
This decision comes amid a significant crisis in bilateral relations. Polls indicate that approximately 60% of Americans now hold a negative view of Israel's policies—a nearly 20-percentage-point increase compared to four years ago. Netanyahu acknowledged that the country's international image has suffered greatly due to the coverage of the conflict in the Gaza Strip and the role of social media, which he termed the "eighth front" of the war.
Financial data further highlights the scale of the issue: according to the Costs of War Project as of October 2025, the United States has spent a record $21.7 billion on military aid to Israel over the past two years. Transitioning to self-sufficiency is viewed by Israeli leadership as a way to reduce dependence on domestic political debates in Washington and to strengthen national sovereignty in the defense sector.
This decision comes amid a significant crisis in bilateral relations. Polls indicate that approximately 60% of Americans now hold a negative view of Israel's policies—a nearly 20-percentage-point increase compared to four years ago. Netanyahu acknowledged that the country's international image has suffered greatly due to the coverage of the conflict in the Gaza Strip and the role of social media, which he termed the "eighth front" of the war.
Financial data further highlights the scale of the issue: according to the Costs of War Project as of October 2025, the United States has spent a record $21.7 billion on military aid to Israel over the past two years. Transitioning to self-sufficiency is viewed by Israeli leadership as a way to reduce dependence on domestic political debates in Washington and to strengthen national sovereignty in the defense sector.
Powered by Froala Editor