Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his intention to phase out annual U.S. military aid over the next decade during a CBS News interview aired Sunday on 60 Minutes. Speaking with CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett, Netanyahu stated he wants to 'draw down to zero' the financial component of military cooperation between Israel and the United States by 2028.
Key Takeaways
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to phase out $3.8 billion in annual U.S. military aid by 2028 during a CBS News interview on '60 Minutes'. He emphasized Israel's desire for financial independence and a partnership model with the U.S., citing declining American support due to social media influence.
- Netanyahu plans to reduce U.S. military aid to zero within a decade
- Israel receives $3.8 billion annually, totaling $38 billion through 2028
- Deteriorating U.S. public opinion correlates with rise of social media
- Iran war ongoing until enriched uranium removed and facilities dismantled
The Israeli leader emphasized that his country has received approximately $3.8 billion in U.S. military aid annually since 2018, with a total commitment of $38 billion through 2028. He believes it is time for Israel to wean itself off this financial support and move toward a partnership model.
According to Fox News, Netanyahu said in the interview: 'Absolutely. And I've said this to President Trump. I want to draw down to zero the American financial support, the financial component of the military cooperation that we have.' He added that he thinks it's time Israel weaned itself from remaining military support.
In the same interview, Netanyahu addressed the ongoing war with Iran, stating that the conflict is 'not over' until highly enriched uranium is removed from Iran and its nuclear enrichment facilities are dismantled. According to CBS News, he mentioned that significant progress has been made in degrading Iran's nuclear capabilities but stressed there is still work to be done.
Netanyahu also discussed the influence of social media on public opinion regarding Israel. Fox News reported that Netanyahu attributed a shift in American perception—with only 32% viewing Israel positively—to the rise of social media and foreign manipulation. According to Reuters, support from lawmakers and the U.S. public has frayed since the outbreak of war in Gaza in October 2023.
In related developments, Israeli officials condemned a New York Times opinion piece as 'one of the worst blood libels' in modern press history. The ministry criticized columnist Nicholas Kristof for publishing allegations of widespread sexual abuse by Israelis against Palestinians. According to Reuters and Fox News, Netanyahu announced plans to sue The New York Times and Kristof for defamation.
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