Trump announces end of military aid to Israel; Netanyahu: "Moving from aid to partnership"

In depth

US President Donald Trump announced the end of military aid to Israel, worth about $3.8 billion a year, by the end of the year. According to Trump, Israel is a very successful country that does not need aid, and the United States will help it if necessary. Trump said he had agreed on this with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Prime Minister Netanyahu responded that the shift from aid to partnership reflects the strength and sophistication of relations between the countries, and it was said that Israel has a strong and stable economy. The response was published three days after Trump's interview, and it did not specify a date for the end of aid. The Finance Ministry did not recognize any intention for immediate cancellation.

Israeli arms orders worth about $10 billion, for which the source of funding has not yet been settled, complicate the end of aid, according to a US State Department document sent to Congress and revealed by the Wall Street Journal. Israel announced that no clarifications have yet been received from the Americans, and President Herzog was also surprised by the announcement.