Trump Announces End to Annual US Funding for Israel After This Year
US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he has reached an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt billions in annual US military funding to Israel following the conclusion of this year. Despite the impending end to direct financial assistance, Trump confirmed that the United States will continue commercial weapons sales to its Middle East ally.
The surprise policy shift was revealed in Washington as American voters headed to the polls for midterm elections that will determine control of Congress. Trump explained that the decision was partly intended to neutralize political criticism from left-wing Democrats regarding US military aid packages.
While the administration stated the funding would cease by the end of the year, further specifics on how the halt will be enacted have not yet been detailed. Under an existing bilateral Memorandum of Understanding, Washington has routinely provided approximately $3.8 billion in annual military assistance to Israel.
