The alliance with America is changing, and Israel cannot afford to ignore it - opinion

Yaakov Katz argues that Israel can no longer take US military aid for granted after the Democratic midterm victory. He warns that congressional appropriations for the $3.8 billion annual package face new political hurdles, and that a new defense technology partnership remains unfunded. Katz urges Israeli opposition leaders to recognize the urgency of political change.

In an opinion piece published November 6, 2026, Yaakov Katz argues that Israel can no longer take American military assistance for granted following the Democratic Party's victory in the midterm elections. He details that the $3.8 billion annual aid package, including $3.3 billion for military procurement and $500 million for missile defense, requires annual congressional appropriations and is not legally binding on lawmakers. Katz warns that even if President Trump supports continued aid, Congress can delay or condition funding. He also notes that a new US-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative has passed the House but does not guarantee funding, and that some Democrats have already tried to alter it. The piece urges Israeli opposition leaders to recognize that the political calculus has changed and that the current government's policies are damaging to Israel's future, though it cautions that a change in leadership alone will not resolve deep policy differences with the Democratic Party over settlements and the West Bank.