Netanyahu announces goal to phase out US military aid to Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in an interview on CBS's '60 Minutes' that he intends to phase out U.S. financial military assistance to Israel over the next decade. He expressed a desire to reduce the annual funding, which currently totals approximately $3.8 billion, to zero. This move aims to increase Israel's defense self-sufficiency and redefine the economic relationship between the two nations. The current bilateral agreement covers a total of $38 billion in aid for the period 2018-2028. These remarks follow reports of declining public support for Israel in the United States since the onset of the conflict in Gaza in October 2023. A March survey by the Pew Research Center indicates that 60% of American adults hold a negative view of Israel. Additionally, 59% of respondents expressed little or no confidence in Netanyahu's leadership regarding international affairs.