President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States will terminate $4 billion in annual aid to Israel by the end of the year. Trump stated that the assistance is no longer necessary, noting that he reached an agreement on the matter with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The current US military aid package is provided under a 10-year memorandum of understanding that began in 2018 and was scheduled to run through 2028. Trump characterized the decision as a response to the country's financial independence, asserting that Israel is capable of purchasing its own defense requirements.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has previously indicated that the era of American military aid was nearing its conclusion. While the US and Israel initiated formal discussions in May regarding a new agreement, it remains unclear if a specific framework is in place to replace the existing arrangement.
