Netanyahu: US Aid Shift to Partnership Model Reflects Strong Ties

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed on Friday the announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump that American military aid to Israel would cease at the end of the year. In a statement released in English via his office's X account, Netanyahu stated that U.S. military aid to Israel had always enjoyed bipartisan support and was used by Israel for self-defense and to counter threats to America and the West. He added that Israel now possesses a strong and stable economy. The transition, led by Netanyahu and President Trump, from an aid model to a partnership model, signifies the strength and sophistication of their relationship and its ability to adapt and endure over time.

The U.S. announcement reportedly surprised Israel's defense establishment, which was unaware of such understandings. A senior IDF official described Trump's announcement as "falling on the defense establishment like a thunderclap," noting it would impact the procurement of fighter jets, attack helicopters, and advanced munitions. A defense source questioned whether Trump would truly cancel the agreement, which is valid until 2028, and whether joint projects for the "Arrow," "Iron Dome," and "David's Sling" systems would be halted. The U.S. president's declaration implies that the defense establishment will need to allocate an additional approximately 13 billion shekels annually for procurement from its own budget.

Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance called for deep introspection within his party and a dramatic shift in the administration's priorities following the midterm election results, which saw Republicans lose control of both the House and the Senate. In a pointed post on X, Vance rejected claims that the party's failure was due to low voter turnout, asserting that voters did show up. He cited his pollster's data and stated that "these four reasons are exactly why many of them voted Democrat this time." Vance directly blamed security policy, noting that President Trump himself acknowledged this on election night. "The reason we lost is the war," Vance declared. "If anyone wants to argue that it was worth it, and that losing control of the Senate for the next six years is a price worth paying, let them stand up and argue it. That would at least be an honest argument. But everyone knows very well why we lost, and any honest conversation about the administration's future path must begin at this point."