US President Donald Trump has said the United States will end its military aid to Israel by the end of this year, a surprise announcement made on election day. Speaking by phone to Fox News as voting began on Tuesday morning, Trump said Washington would cut nearly $4 billion (£2.96 billion) in annual military assistance because Israel « doesn't need it ».
The announcement appeared aimed at voters who are sceptical of continued US support for Israel and its war in Gaza. The timing, on the day of the US midterm elections, drew attention to the issue as a political one, with the military aid figure central to the message.
The United States has long been one of Israel's largest providers of military assistance, and the annual payment is a significant part of the bilateral security relationship. Trump's remarks did not set out in detail how the funding would be phased out or what would replace it.
The comments come at a time when support for Israel has become a more contested issue among some American voters, particularly after the war in Gaza. Trump's statement signals that the question of US military funding for Israel has moved into the centre of the election campaign.
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