Trump Claims US Aid to Israel to End by Year's End, Israeli Media Cites Agreement Discrepancies

Hebrew-language media outlets, including The Times of Israel, have commented on statements made by US President Donald Trump regarding the potential termination of US aid to Israel by the end of the year. In a recent interview with Fox News, Trump stated that his administration would not permit its accomplishments to be jeopardized by what he characterized as “the exploitation of aid to Israel by political candidates.” He specifically cited Abdul El-Sayed, a candidate in Michigan, who has repeatedly questioned the rationale behind the US providing four billion dollars annually to Israel, suggesting that halting this aid would resolve the issue.

President Trump further indicated that an agreement had been reached with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cease American aid to Israel by the close of the year, asserting that “Israel no longer needs it.” He elaborated, “They are fine with it because they have become a very successful country; they don’t need it. And we will no longer be paying Israel.”

However, The Times of Israel has described Trump’s statement as “false,” referencing a 10-year memorandum of understanding concerning US military aid to Israel. This agreement, which provides Tel Aviv with $3.8 billion annually, is set to continue until September 2028. The Israeli newspaper highlighted that Trump’s announcement underscores the diminishing support for aid to Israel across both major US political parties.

The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation reported that security officials expressed surprise at Trump’s announcement to halt military support. According to Fox News, the existing security assistance agreement between the US and Israel is valued at approximately $3.8 billion annually and extends through 2028. While Prime Minister Netanyahu has previously expressed a desire to gradually reduce Israel’s dependence on US military aid, the specific timing and terms of any such modification to the agreement have not been detailed.