Jerusalem, November 9 (ANI): American military assistance to Israel will not end immediately under an upcoming security memorandum of understanding. Instead, direct aid is expected to be reduced by roughly half by limiting the agreement to a five-year period after 2028, rather than the traditional 10-year term, according to new details reported by Ynetnews.
The revelations come approximately a week after US President Donald Trump unexpectedly stated that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to end American military aid by the end of the year. The announcement reportedly left Israeli negotiating teams bewildered, Ynetnews reported.
A senior Israeli official assessed that Trump’s declaration was primarily driven by domestic political calculations aimed at helping Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan against Democratic challenger Abdul El-Sayed. However, the strategy ultimately proved unsuccessful, as El-Sayed secured victory, becoming the first Muslim elected to the US Senate, according to Ynetnews.
During an appearance on Fox News on Election Day, Trump said, “We were giving them $4 billion. We are, but it gets cut off at the end of the year.”
He also noted that Netanyahu had previously raised the possibility of gradually phasing out assistance, arguing that Israel had become a prosperous nation that no longer required such support.
Nevertheless, the evolving framework does not envisage an immediate suspension of aid. Current assistance is expected to remain fully in place through 2028 under the existing arrangement, which provides $3.3 billion annually in Foreign Military Financing, along with $500 million for joint defense research, Ynetnews reported.
Under the revised terms being discussed by teams representing US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israel’s Defense Ministry, annual funding levels would remain comparable for a shortened five-year period, totaling approximately $16.5 billion before direct military assistance ends.
Meanwhile, American allocations for collaborative air and missile defense development are expected to increase from the current $500 million annually, although the final amount has yet to be determined.
A senior Israeli official familiar with the diplomatic discussions also noted that many members of Congress oppose reducing assistance because of its domestic economic benefits. Most of the funding flows back into American manufacturing facilities and local economies, Ynetnews reported.
“We are moving here from a model of aid to a model of partnership,” the senior Israeli official said.
“It is important to remember that most of the security assistance remains in America and contributes to the American economy. Cutting it would also hurt American industries and require adjustments,” the official added.
While negotiators aim to finalize the agreement before the new Congress convenes in January, Israeli planners remain concerned about annual congressional appropriation requirements and potential political disagreements.
Officials have acknowledged that future government compositions and political leadership will significantly influence legislative support in Washington, Ynetnews reported. (ANI)
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