Netanyahu calls Trump's $4 billion US aid cutoff a shift towards equal partnership

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday sought to portray US President Donald Trump's decision to end nearly $4 billion in annual military assistance to Israel as a transition towards an equal strategic and economic partnership, maintaining that the country's growing financial strength had reduced its dependence on American aid.

In its first public response to Trump's announcement earlier this week, Netanyahu's office said the proposed shift reflected the strength and maturity of relations between the two countries rather than a weakening of their longstanding alliance.

The statement came after Trump announced on Tuesday that Washington would stop providing annual assistance to Israel by the end of 2026, despite an existing bilateral agreement that provides approximately $3.8 billion annually through September 2028.

𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗮𝗵𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝗦 𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

In a statement posted on X, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office emphasised the historical importance of American military assistance while arguing that the relationship was entering a new phase.

"U.S. military aid to Israel has always been a cross-the-aisle agreement. Israel has used it both to defend itself and to confront enemies who threaten America and the West," the statement said.

It added that Israel's economic position now allowed the two countries to pursue a different model of cooperation.

"Today, Israel has a strong and stable economy. The move by PM Netanyahu and President Trump from aid to partnership shows the strength and sophistication of our relationship, and its ability to adapt and stand strong over time," the Prime Minister's Office said.

Netanyahu's office did not dispute Trump's announcement that direct military assistance would end, instead presenting the decision as part of a broader transition towards mutual investment and strategic cooperation.

Prime Minister's Office spokesperson Doron Spielman said Netanyahu had been working with Trump to move the relationship away from traditional financial assistance towards partnership and mutual investment.

𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗶𝗱

Trump announced the proposed cutoff during a telephone interview with Fox News on Tuesday, coinciding with the US midterm elections.

He said the United States had been providing Israel with approximately $4 billion annually but that the arrangement would end in December.

The President argued that Israel had become economically prosperous enough to finance its own defence purchases without relying on American assistance.

"They don't need it," Trump said, describing Israel as a thriving country.

Trump also claimed that Netanyahu had approached him about ending the assistance and that the two leaders had discussed the issue over an extended period.

Under the proposed arrangement, Israel would continue purchasing American weapons, although the United States would no longer provide the same level of direct annual military funding.

However, the precise mechanism for ending the assistance remains unclear, particularly because the existing bilateral agreement extends until 2028.

𝗘𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟴

The United States and Israel signed a 10-year memorandum of understanding in 2016, committing Washington to providing $38 billion in military assistance between fiscal years 2019 and 2028.

The agreement provides approximately $3.8 billion annually, including funding for military procurement and missile defence programmes.

The assistance has formed a central component of Israel's defence relationship with Washington, helping finance the purchase of advanced American military equipment and supporting joint defence initiatives.

Trump's announcement has therefore raised questions about whether the remaining commitments under the agreement will be honoured or revised.

Netanyahu had previously discussed gradually reducing Israel's dependence on American military assistance over the coming decade. The proposed termination by the end of 2026 represents a substantially faster transition.

𝗜𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹𝗶 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀

The announcement has drawn criticism from Israeli opposition leaders, who have questioned the financial and security implications of ending American assistance while Israel faces substantial defence expenditure.

Yair Golan, chairman of Israel's Democrats party, described the proposed withdrawal of aid as a serious setback for the country's security.

He argued that Israel needed to replenish military stockpiles and strengthen air defence capabilities following prolonged regional conflicts.

Golan said the loss of American funding would place additional pressure on Israeli taxpayers, who could be required to shoulder a greater share of defence expenditure.

He also criticised Netanyahu's handling of the proposed change, arguing that the government should seek stronger American assistance rather than accelerate its termination.

Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot separately questioned why Israel's defence establishment and public had learned about the proposed shift through media reports.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog also expressed concern about the announcement, pointing to the existing agreement that remains in force until 2028.

𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻

The proposed change comes amid growing political debate in the United States over the scale of military assistance provided to Israel.

American support for Israel has traditionally enjoyed bipartisan backing, but the country's military operations in Gaza and the wider regional conflict have intensified scrutiny of Washington's defence commitments.

Trump linked the decision to criticism from Democratic politicians who have questioned continued American funding for Israel.

The announcement also followed growing divisions within Republican circles over foreign military assistance and US involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts.

Although the proposed cutoff would significantly change the structure of American support, it would not necessarily end defence cooperation between the two countries.

Israel would remain able to purchase US weapons, while other forms of military, technological and strategic collaboration could continue.

𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗱 𝗜𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹'𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘆

The development comes as Netanyahu faces uncertainty over his political future following Israel's October 27 parliamentary election.

Opposition parties have rallied behind former military chief Gadi Eisenkot as their candidate to form the next government, increasing pressure on Netanyahu as coalition negotiations continue.

The proposed change in American assistance has become another issue in the domestic political debate, with opposition leaders questioning its timing and implications.

Netanyahu's government, however, maintains that the transition reflects Israel's economic resilience and the evolving nature of its relationship with Washington.

For now, the timetable and legal arrangements for terminating US military assistance remain unresolved, even as both governments signal their intention to preserve close defence and strategic ties.