- Trump to end 4 billion dollars annual US aid to Israel.
- Decision based on Israel's economic prosperity for defense.
- Yair Golan criticizes move as severe blow to security.
US President Donald Trump has announced that Washington will end approximately USD 4 billion in annual assistance to Israel by the end of this year, asserting that the country is now economically prosperous enough to meet its own defence needs without American financial support.
Reacting to the development, Israel's Democratic Party Chairman Yair Golan, who belongs to the anti-Netanyahu bloc, criticised the proposed move, calling it a severe blow to the country's security.
During an interview with Fox News on Tuesday (local time), he said, "We were giving them 4 billion dollars-- we are --, but it gets cut off at the end of the year."
Trump explained the reasoning behind the decision, saying that Israel had become economically prosperous and could purchase its own weapons without relying on American assistance.
"They don't need it," Trump said, adding, "Israel is a very thriving country."
Reacting to Trump's announcement, Israel's Democratic Party Chairman Yair Golan criticised Netanyahu over the development, saying that the decision came at a time when Israel's defence requirements remained high following the prolonged war.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Golan said, "Precisely at a time when Israel's defense expenditures have reached enormous proportions, when Israel needs to replenish its offensive weapons stockpiles, and when its air defense capabilities have eroded after such a prolonged war--Netanyahu chalks up yet another colossal failure on his record."
דווקא בתקופה שההוצאות הביטחוניות של ישראל הגיעו למימדים עצומים, שישראל צריכה להשלים את מלאי הנשק ההתקפי שלה, ושיכולות ההגנה האווירית נשחקו אחרי מלחמה כל כך ארוכה - נתניהו רושם עוד כישלון עצום על שמו. הפסקת הסיוע האמריקאי הוא נזק כבד לביטחון ישראל ולאיכות החיים במדינה, כי מימון צורכי הביטחון בעת כל כך קריטית, יפלו אך ורק על הציבור הישראלי. ראש ממשלה אחראי היה נאבק להגדלת הסיוע האמריקאי, לא מחסל אותו. נתניהו מעמיק את המשבר הביטחוני והכלכלי ומסכן את עתידה של ישראל.
— Yair Golan - יאיר גולן (@YairGolan1) November 3, 2026
He further described the halt in American assistance as "a severe blow to Israel's security and to the quality of life in the country", arguing that the financial burden of meeting security requirements would fall on Israeli citizens.
"The halt in American aid is a severe blow to Israel's security and to the quality of life in the country, because funding security needs at such a critical juncture will fall solely on the Israeli public," Golan said.
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Golan added, "A responsible prime minister would fight to increase American aid, not dismantle it. Netanyahu is deepening the security and economic crisis and endangering Israel's future."
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The development comes against the backdrop of the existing US-Israel security assistance agreement, which provides approximately USD 3.8 billion annually through 2028. The agreement forms a key part of the longstanding military cooperation between the two countries.
Netanyahu had previously expressed his intention to reduce Israel's dependence on American military assistance over the coming decade, according to his interview with CBS News' 60 Minutes.
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The proposed move also comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Axios, had urged US President Donald Trump to launch fresh military strikes against Iran immediately after Tuesday's US midterm elections, amid concerns in Israel over Washington's continued pursuit of a diplomatic solution with Tehran.
( With inputs from ANI )