Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Middle Eastern country should phase out US military assistance over the next decade as it seeks deeper regional partnerships and greater defense independence.
Netanyahu explained in an interview with CBS News that he wants “to draw down to zero the American financial support” tied to military cooperation with Washington.
Tel Aviv currently receives about $3.8 billion in annual US military aid under a long-term agreement running through 2028.
“I don’t want to wait for the next Congress,” the Israeli leader said. “I want to start now.”
Low American Support, Risk in Retaliation
Netanyahu made the remarks as the support for Israel in the US continues to weaken amid the war in Gaza and the ongoing conflict with Iran.
That impression reflected in a recent survey conducted by Washington-based think tank Pew Research Center, which found that 59 percent of Americans now hold an “unfavorable view of Israel.”
Netanyahu blamed much of the shift on social media, saying several countries had “basically manipulated” online platforms in methods that “hurt us badly.”
He then acknowledged that Israel underestimated the risk posed by Iran’s ability to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz during the ongoing conflict.
“It took a while for them to understand how big that risk is,” Netanyahu said.
The prime minister declined to discuss Israeli military plans in Iran but highlighted that a collapse of the government could dismantle Tehran’s regional proxy network, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis.
“Is it possible? Yes,” Netanyahu said regarding a regime change in Iran. “Is it guaranteed? No.”
