Trump says US ending $3.8 bil. in annual aid for Israel

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that Washington would cease its annual $3.8 billion aid to Israel, coinciding with the midterm elections where support for Israel has been a contentious matter. The U.S. provides Israel with $4 billion each year, and a deal was reached months ago to halt the aid, according to Trump in a phone interview with Fox News.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed satisfaction with the decision. Israel would continue to receive financial assistance for purchasing around $3.8 billion worth of weapons annually. Trump stated, "Now we'll help Israel if they need it." The announcement came as Americans went to the polls in pivotal midterm elections that would decide control of Congress for the remainder of Trump's presidency, and shortly after Israel's parliamentary elections that failed to produce a clear winner.

Since its establishment in 1948, Israel has received over $300 billion in U.S. economic and military aid, adjusted for inflation, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.