Jerusalem:Israeli defense and finance officials were taken by surprise following US President Donald Trump's announcement that the United States would cease providing approximately $4 billion in annual aid to Israel by the end of 2026.
According to Anadolu Agency – English, officials from Israel's Finance Ministry, Defense Ministry, and military were not informed in advance about this decision and are currently assessing its potential impacts, particularly concerning future military transactions. The news was reported by Yedioth Ahronoth's website Ynet, which highlighted the lack of prior communication regarding this significant change.
Public broadcaster KAN, as reflected in various reports, cited a senior defense official expressing that the announcement was unforeseen, despite continuous discussions with US counterparts. The official noted that the decision had not yet been formally communicated to the relevant professional bodies, which are now tasked with evaluating its implications.
The announcement was made during President Trump's interview with Fox News, where he stated that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously agreed to phase out the annual assistance, deeming it unnecessary for Israel. However, Trump assured that the US would still support Israel if needed.
Criticism emerged from Israel's Democrats party leader, Yair Golan, who argued that halting US assistance would shift the financial burden onto Israelis amid substantial defense expenditures. Golan used US social media platform X to express concerns that the decision could severely impact Israel's security and quality of life, as it would require the Israeli public to fund military needs entirely.
Golan emphasized that the decision comes at a time when Israel's defense spending is exceptionally high and the nation is facing the need to replenish its offensive weapon stockpiles. He also criticized Netanyahu, attributing this development to what he described as another significant failure on Netanyahu's part. The existing memorandum of understanding, signed in 2016, outlines a $38 billion aid package for the period of US fiscal years 2019-2028, including $3.3 billion annually in military financing and $500 million for joint missile defense programs.