Iran, Gaza, and ending military aid to Israel hang over Trump and Netanyahu meeting
Who benefits from this decision?
President Donald Trump will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House this week, with Iran and Gaza topping the agenda. But hanging over the visit is a quieter shift that could reshape America’s alliance with its most important ally.
The meeting is the first one at the White House since Netanyahu announced his plan for Israel to “taper” off its reliance on American military aid over the next decade. Netanyahu’s pitch is tailor-made for Trump’s America First agenda: Phase out billions in U.S. military aid and let Israel buy its own weapons like any other customer.
Yet, while Trump seems unsold, even one of the biggest military hawks within the GOP is on board.
“The aid we have provided to Israel has been a great investment, keeping the IDF strong, sharing technology, and making their military more capable — to the benefit of the United States,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). “The billions in taxpayer dollars that would be saved by expediting the termination of military aid to Israel will and should be plowed back into the U.S. military, which is the best in the world and in great demand.”
Graham, who is facing a primary challenge as he seeks reelection this year, said that given Israel’s strong economy, there is no reason “we need not wait ten years.”
American military aid to Israel has become more controversial for Democrats and some libertarian and America First Republicans since Hamas’ terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023, amid criticism of how Israel has prosecuted its war against the terrorist organization in Gaza.
Former President Joe Biden even temporarily paused a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel in May 2024 in response to concerns regarding the number of civilian casualties.
But the U.S.-Israel military aid relationship, premised on a 10-year memorandum of understanding that is poised to expire in 2028 and its annual provision of about $3.8 billion in military assistance, representing roughly 15 to 20% of Israel’s defense budget, has provided the United States with some leverage over Israel when the two countries have had disagreements in the past.
Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow and Trump’s former special representative to Iran, Elliott Abrams, explained how complicated it could be to convince the president.
“If the issue arises, I think Netanyahu will want assurance that Lindsey Graham’s idea of a much quicker cut off is not taking hold in the administration,” the Vandenberg Coalition …
Who benefits from this decision?
President Donald Trump will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House this week, with Iran and Gaza topping the agenda. But hanging over the visit is a quieter shift that could reshape America’s alliance with its most important ally.
The meeting is the first one at the White House since Netanyahu announced his plan for Israel to “taper” off its reliance on American military aid over the next decade. Netanyahu’s pitch is tailor-made for Trump’s America First agenda: Phase out billions in U.S. military aid and let Israel buy its own weapons like any other customer.
Yet, while Trump seems unsold, even one of the biggest military hawks within the GOP is on board.
“The aid we have provided to Israel has been a great investment, keeping the IDF strong, sharing technology, and making their military more capable — to the benefit of the United States,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). “The billions in taxpayer dollars that would be saved by expediting the termination of military aid to Israel will and should be plowed back into the U.S. military, which is the best in the world and in great demand.”
Graham, who is facing a primary challenge as he seeks reelection this year, said that given Israel’s strong economy, there is no reason “we need not wait ten years.”
American military aid to Israel has become more controversial for Democrats and some libertarian and America First Republicans since Hamas’ terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023, amid criticism of how Israel has prosecuted its war against the terrorist organization in Gaza.
Former President Joe Biden even temporarily paused a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel in May 2024 in response to concerns regarding the number of civilian casualties.
But the U.S.-Israel military aid relationship, premised on a 10-year memorandum of understanding that is poised to expire in 2028 and its annual provision of about $3.8 billion in military assistance, representing roughly 15 to 20% of Israel’s defense budget, has provided the United States with some leverage over Israel when the two countries have had disagreements in the past.
Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow and Trump’s former special representative to Iran, Elliott Abrams, explained how complicated it could be to convince the president.
“If the issue arises, I think Netanyahu will want assurance that Lindsey Graham’s idea of a much quicker cut off is not taking hold in the administration,” the Vandenberg Coalition …
Iran, Gaza, and ending military aid to Israel hang over Trump and Netanyahu meeting
Who benefits from this decision?
President Donald Trump will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House this week, with Iran and Gaza topping the agenda. But hanging over the visit is a quieter shift that could reshape America’s alliance with its most important ally.
The meeting is the first one at the White House since Netanyahu announced his plan for Israel to “taper” off its reliance on American military aid over the next decade. Netanyahu’s pitch is tailor-made for Trump’s America First agenda: Phase out billions in U.S. military aid and let Israel buy its own weapons like any other customer.
Yet, while Trump seems unsold, even one of the biggest military hawks within the GOP is on board.
“The aid we have provided to Israel has been a great investment, keeping the IDF strong, sharing technology, and making their military more capable — to the benefit of the United States,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). “The billions in taxpayer dollars that would be saved by expediting the termination of military aid to Israel will and should be plowed back into the U.S. military, which is the best in the world and in great demand.”
Graham, who is facing a primary challenge as he seeks reelection this year, said that given Israel’s strong economy, there is no reason “we need not wait ten years.”
American military aid to Israel has become more controversial for Democrats and some libertarian and America First Republicans since Hamas’ terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023, amid criticism of how Israel has prosecuted its war against the terrorist organization in Gaza.
Former President Joe Biden even temporarily paused a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel in May 2024 in response to concerns regarding the number of civilian casualties.
But the U.S.-Israel military aid relationship, premised on a 10-year memorandum of understanding that is poised to expire in 2028 and its annual provision of about $3.8 billion in military assistance, representing roughly 15 to 20% of Israel’s defense budget, has provided the United States with some leverage over Israel when the two countries have had disagreements in the past.
Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow and Trump’s former special representative to Iran, Elliott Abrams, explained how complicated it could be to convince the president.
“If the issue arises, I think Netanyahu will want assurance that Lindsey Graham’s idea of a much quicker cut off is not taking hold in the administration,” the Vandenberg Coalition …
