Washington. US President Donald Trump has announced during the midterm elections that after this year, America will stop the financial aid it provides to Israel every year. According to Trump, an agreement has been reached with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop annual aid worth $4 billion.
However, Trump has made it clear that America will continue to sell arms to Israel and will also help it if needed. This decision indicates a change in the decades-old military relations between the two countries.
Trump has made this big announcement amid the midterm elections. He clearly said that Israel no longer needs financial assistance. Trump also indicated that this decision could weaken the arguments of leftist Democrats who criticize the Republican Party for giving American aid to Israel.
Trump said in the show Fox & Friends that America will stop providing economic aid to Israel by the end of this year. However, if Israel needs it, America will help it. Trump did not say how this funding would be stopped by December. Actually, the current agreement between America and Israel is applicable till September 2028. Under this, America provides military aid worth $3.8 billion to Israel every year.
This announcement has come at a time when criticism regarding Israel has increased in America. Democrats have been critical of Israel's military operations in Gaza. Surveys show that fewer American citizens are now supporting Israel. Many people believe that America is giving excessive help to Israel in the Middle East.
In June, a survey by Quinnipiac University revealed that 48% of American voters and 66% of Democrats believe that America is excessively supporting Israel. The special thing is that this announcement has come at a time when there is a danger of Trump's Republican Party losing control of the 'House of Representatives' in the mid-term elections.