Israeli President Herzog reacts to President Trump's announcement ending U.S. aid
President Isaac Herzog said the decision to cut U.S. military aid to Israel was unexpected, while officials on both sides sought clarification.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog described President Donald Trump's announcement to end U.S. military aid to Israel as unexpected, saying it "fell on me like a bolt from the blue." He noted that the United States and Israel have a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that runs until 2028, providing about $3.8 billion a year for American weaponry, and urged that a stable government be formed to avoid repeated elections.
Trump announced the aid would cease this year, two years before the MoU’s scheduled end, during an Election Day interview with Fox News. He argued that Israel receives the highest level of U.S. assistance and suggested the country no longer needs it.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said he is seeking clarification on the policy change. In an interview with Israel’s Channel 12 News, Huckabee defended the aid program, stating that Americans need to understand the value of the partnership and its benefits to their daily lives.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly commented on the announcement.