President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will cut its $4 billion annual aid to Israel by the end of the year. This decision comes after Trump struck an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
What happened
Trump explained that Israel no longer needs the aid, citing the country's thriving economy. He also mentioned that the aid has become a point of contention, particularly among Democratic candidates. The US will, however, continue to sell arms to Israel.
According to Trump, Netanyahu initiated the conversation about ending American aid, stating that it would be appropriate for Israel not to receive aid. Trump emphasized that if circumstances change, the US could provide help to Israel again.
The US has provided tens of billions of dollars in military aid to Israel over the years. In 2016, the US signed a security agreement with Israel, providing $38 billion in military aid over 10 years. Netanyahu has previously discussed the need to wean Israel off US aid, suggesting that it could be phased out over the next 10 years.
