US president’s announcement comes on morning of midterms, reportedly surprises Israeli officials as bilateral MOU only expires next year; no comment from Netanyahu
By: Jacob Magid – The Times of Israel; timesofisrael.com
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that the United States will cease providing some $4 billion in annual military aid to Israel after the end of this year, in comments that reportedly caught Israeli security and financial officials off guard.
Trump tried to qualify the announcement by stressing that Israel has been a good ally and even backs the policy, but his decision to issue it on the morning of the Congressional midterm elections highlights how toxic the issue of aid to Israel has become among both parties in the US.
“As far as paying Israel, Bibi Netanyahu and I have made a deal — we give Israel $4 billion a year — we made a deal months ago that we’re stopping,” Trump told Fox News in a phone interview.
“They’re fine with it because they’ve become a very successful country. They don’t need it. And we won’t be paying anymore, Israel,” he continued.
cont’d…