Reuters. U.S President Donald Trump on Tuesday (November 3) said he made a deal with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington would stop $4 billion in funding to Israel after the end of this year.
Speaking to Fox News' Fox and Friends, Trump said Israel no longer needed the funding and that some Democrats and left-wing politicians were using the US financial support to Israel as a talking point to criticize Republicans.
"Now, as far as paying Israel, Bibi Netanyahu and I have made a deal that we give Israel $4 billion a year, and we made a deal months ago that we're stopping," Trump told Fox News' Fox and Friends.
"We've already agreed that by the end of this year we won't be paying Israel. Now we'll help Israel if they need it," he said.
There was no immediate comment from Netanyahu's office on Trump's remarks.
It was not immediately clear which exact funding Trump meant. A memorandum of understanding that provides $3.8 billion annual US military aid to Israel is approaching its expiration date in 2028 and conversations have been under way on how Washington's assistance to Israel would evolve beyond that date.
Support for Israel among Democratic voters has plummeted, candidates critical of Israel are winning Democratic primaries and even moderate lawmakers are increasingly willing to challenge decades of US support for Israel.
