President Donald Trump revealed plans to cut approximately $4 billion in aid to Israel by the end of the year. According to Trump, Israel does not need the funding, and he wishes to avoid criticism from Democrats who have used US aid to Israel as a contentious issue.
What happened
The US has been the largest provider of foreign aid to Israel since World War II, with a total of $174 billion in non-inflation-adjusted dollars. The Obama administration had committed to providing Israel with $3.8 billion in security funding annually as part of a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding. However, Trump stated that Israel can still purchase military equipment and defense systems from the US.
Trump attributed the idea of defunding to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, claiming they agreed on the decision months ago. The White House has not commented on the matter, leaving uncertainty about whether the $4 billion figure refers to the annual $3.8 billion pledged in the MOU or additional military aid.
A recent poll found that 58% of Democrats and 51% of Jewish Democrats believe the US is too supportive of Israel, while 42% of US adults hold a negative view of Israelis and 62% hold a negative view of the Israeli government. Trump's decision may exacerbate these negative views and spark controversy among Democrats and Jewish communities.
