Former NSC official warns Trump-Netanyahu aid cut could undermine US-Israel security ties

Former National Security Council senior adviser Dr. Avner Golov said the proposal to end U.S. military assistance to Israel by the end of 2026 could be interpreted as a withdrawal from the United States’ long-standing security commitment to its ally.

President Donald Trump told Fox & Friends that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to cease the aid by December 2026, a claim Golov described as a significant shift in bilateral relations.

"The greatest danger is that this move might be interpreted as a retreat from the American commitment to Israel’s security," Golov said.

Golov added that the aid program is not charitable but serves strategic interests for both countries, and he urged deeper cooperation in technology and defense rather than a reduction in assistance.

Netanyahu had previously indicated a gradual reduction of aid leading up to the expiration of the current military assistance agreement in 2028.