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

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States will cease its annual $3.8 billion in aid to Israel during the midterm elections, a day when support for Israel has been a contentious issue. The decision was made following a deal months ago, according to Trump, who spoke with Fox News in a phone interview. He suggested that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was content with the aid ending.

Under the agreement, Israel receives financial assistance for purchasing around $3.8 billion worth of weapons annually. Trump stated that the U.S. would continue to aid Israel if needed, and praised the nation as thriving. The announcement emerged as Americans cast votes in crucial midterm elections, which will decide control of Congress for the remaining two years of Trump's presidency, and soon after Israel's parliamentary elections that failed to produce a clear winner.

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