Trump says US will halt $4 billion annual aid to Israel by year-end

Summarised from 7 outlets · 8 reports · Updated 3 Nov, 16:15 · Archive

President Trump says the US will stop providing $4 billion in annual aid to Israel after the end of this year, though Israel can still purchase American weapons.

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States will stop $4 billion in annual aid to Israel by the end of this year. Speaking to Fox News' Fox and Friends, Trump said he had reached an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the matter.

'They don't need it,' Trump said of Israel. 'Israel is a very thriving country.' He argued that the country is able to purchase its own weapons and no longer requires American financial support. Trump added that if circumstances changed, the US could still help Israel if needed.

Trump said Netanyahu initiated the discussion about ending the aid. 'He brought it up. He brought it up,' Trump said, adding that the Israeli leader believed it would be 'appropriate' for Israel not to receive aid. Trump and Netanyahu had discussed the idea for years, he claimed.

Trump suggested that ending aid to Israel would remove a political talking point used by Democrats and left-wing politicians to criticise Republicans. He said some on the left were using the funding as 'the best talking point that these lunatics' have against his party.

The current US-Israel security assistance agreement provides approximately $3.8 billion annually through fiscal year 2028. Netanyahu has previously stated he wants to phase out Israel's reliance on US military aid, though specific timing and terms have not been detailed until now.

While the $4 billion in annual aid will end, Trump emphasised that Israel will still be able to purchase American weapons. 'They can buy whatever they want,' he said, pointing out that the US manufactures 'the greatest weapons in the world'. Trump also highlighted new US Patriot and Tomahawk factories during the interview.

There was no immediate comment from Netanyahu's office on Trump's announcement. The announcement came during midterm election voting, when military aid to Israel has featured prominently in campaign discussions, with some Democratic legislators calling for aid reductions over Israel's actions in Gaza.

How it is being reported

• Trump says he'll cut aid to Israel by the end of the year after striking agreement with Netanyahu: 'They no longer need it'President Donald Trump has said he will cut aid to Israel by the end of the year after he struck a deal with Benjamin Netanyahu.Daily Mail · 3 Nov, 16:05
• Trump cuts Israeli military aid: $3.8 billion in security assistance slashedUS President Donald Trump on Tuesday, November 3, said he made a deal with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for Washington to stop providing $3.8 billion in funding to Israel after the end of this year. FRANCE 24's Jerusalem correspondent, Noga Tarnopolsky, has more.France 24 · 3 Nov, 16:01
• Trump says US will end military aid to Israel by end of the yearPresident makes surprise announcement to halt $4bn annual funding, which has featured prominently in midterm campaigningFinancial Times · 3 Nov, 15:32
• Trump says US will halt $4 billion in aid to Israel after end of this yearPresident Donald Trump on Tuesday said that the United States will stop $4 billion in funding to Israel after the end of this year. While speaking to Fox News' Fox and Friends, the US president added that Israel no longer needed the aid from Washington, and that some politicians were using the funding to criticise Republicans.France 24 · 3 Nov, 14:35
• Trump says US will end $4B in annual aid to Israel:’They don’t need it’Donald Trump announced plans to end nearly $4 billion in annual US aid to Israel, saying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to the move.New York Post · 3 Nov, 14:06
• Trump announces that US will stop paying Israel after year-endThis is a breaking news story.Al Jazeera · 3 Nov, 13:42
• Trump says US will stop funding Israel at the end of the yearUS president says he has struck new deal with Benjamin NetanyahuIndependent World · 3 Nov, 13:35
• Trump says Israel will stop receiving $4B in US aid by year's end, can still buy weaponsPresident Donald Trump said Tuesday that U.S. aid to Israel would end at the close of the year, arguing that the country no longer needs the assistance and can purchase its own weapons. "We were giving them $4 billion – we are – but it gets cut off at the end of the year," Trump told "Fox &…Fox News · 3 Nov, 12:46

In this story: Donald Trump · Benjamin Netanyahu · Israel · United States · Democrats

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