Israel to Gradually Phase Out US Military Aid, PM's Office States

By דפנה ליאל

Translated & summarized from Mako by baba

CenterNeutral tone

Hebrew · 2 newsrooms covering

Israel's Prime Minister's Office announced that U.S. military aid will be gradually phased out, marking a transition to a strategic partnership. The office stated Israel's economy is strong enough for this change, a move previously indicated by Prime Minister Netanyahu and confirmed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This follows a similar phase-out of financial aid initiated in 1996.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Israel's Prime Minister's Office announced a gradual phase-out of U.S. military aid.
The move signifies a transition from aid to a strategic partnership between the U.S. and Israel.
Prime Minister Netanyahu had previously expressed a desire to reduce aid to zero.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the initiative was proposed by Israel.
This follows a 1996 commitment by Netanyahu to phase out U.S. financial aid.

Israel to Gradually Phase Out US Military Aid, PM's Office States — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

The Prime Minister's Office announced on Wednesday that U.S. military aid to Israel will be gradually phased out, characterizing it as a significant step in transitioning from aid to a strategic partnership. The statement emphasized that Israel's economy is now strong and stable enough to support this transition, reflecting the evolving alliance between the two nations.

This announcement follows a previous statement made in English last week, which asserted that Israel has used military aid for its defense and to confront enemies threatening America and the West. The Prime Minister's Office reiterated that Israel and the United States are moving towards a partnership, highlighting Israel's economic resilience.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously outlined this direction in May during an interview with "60 Minutes" on CBS, stating his desire to gradually reduce U.S. financial aid to zero. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed this initiative during a visit to Paris this week, noting that it was a proposal put forth by Israel itself.

In 1996, Prime Minister Netanyahu had also committed to gradually ending U.S. financial aid, which then amounted to $1.2 billion, and he fulfilled that commitment. The current move, thirty years later, signifies another major shift in the bilateral relationship.