Israel Confused by Trump's Aid Declaration, Seeks Clarity

Two days after U.S. President Donald Trump declared that security aid to Israel would cease by the end of the year, Jerusalem remains uncertain about the meaning of his statement. It is unclear whether Trump intends to halt funds already promised to Israel or is referring to a new agreement currently under discussion. An Israeli official familiar with the matter described the lack of clarity, stating, "The system is also trying to understand, and I don't think the Americans have answers at this stage with everything that's happening there." According to the official, discussions with the Americans are expected to resume after the midterm election results are clarified.

The confusion also extends to the existing aid agreement. The Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries is valid until 2028, under which Israel receives $3.8 billion annually. With two years remaining, Israel is set to receive $7.6 billion. Concurrently, Netanyahu stated before the elections that Israel seeks to forge a new agreement, under which aid would be gradually reduced to zero over ten years. Israeli officials estimate that Trump was referring to this future agreement, not an immediate halt to existing aid. However, without details on the agreements between Trump and Netanyahu or their timelines, this assessment provides no clear answer.

The question of aid approval by the new Congress also remains open. Israel fears that Congress might complicate the transfer of remaining funds under the current agreement. According to Israeli estimates, halting procurement could affect approximately one million American households that rely on the production of weapons and ammunition that Israel purchases. Netanyahu has not yet publicly addressed the statement, and his associates are not providing information on the matter. A senior Israeli official concluded, "Nobody knows anything, except that Bibi promised him to give up without making problems."