Israeli media comments on Trump’s statement on halting US Aid

Hebrew-language newspapers, such as The Times of Israel, voiced opinions on remarks made by US President Donald Trump about suspending American aid to Israel by the end of the year. During an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, Trump asserted that his administration would not permit its accomplishments to be jeopardized by what he called "the exploitation of aid to Israel by political candidates," referencing Abdul El-Sayed, a Michigan gubernatorial candidate who has questioned the rationale behind providing the United States four billion dollars annually to Israel.

Trump also mentioned that he had reached an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discontinue American aid to Israel by year-end, stating, "Israel no longer requires it. They are doing well; they do not require it. And we will no longer be financing Israel." Nevertheless, The Times of Israel deemed Trump's assertions "false," citing a 10-year agreement on US military aid to Israel that does not terminate until September 2028.

The Israeli newspaper observed that Trump's declaration underscores the diminishing popularity of aid to Israel among both major American political parties. The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation reported that security experts were caught off guard by Trump's announcement to cease military assistance. According to Fox News, the existing security aid arrangement between the US and Israel entails roughly $3.8 billion annually through 2028.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has previously expressed a desire to progressively diminish Israel's dependence on US military aid, though the specific terms and timing of any modifications to the pact remain undetermined.