Trump announces halt to US military aid to Israel by end of 2026, alarming officials

US President Donald Trump announced halting billions in annual military aid to Israel by end of 2026, alarming Israeli officials amid multi-front conflicts. Ambassador Huckabee said the move was jointly agreed with PM Netanyahu to transition from aid to trade or partnership.

US President Donald Trump's announcement that the United States would halt billions of dollars in annual military aid to Israel by the end of 2026 has alarmed Israelis, raising concerns about security vulnerability while the country is still fighting on multiple fronts. The decision came at a politically sensitive time, a week after Israel's own elections and on the day of US midterm elections. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee argued the move was jointly agreed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to transition from aid to a trade relationship, a claim the Prime Minister's Office appeared to confirm. However, the speed of the change caused consternation in Jerusalem. Former National Security Council head Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Giora Eiland called it "an unexpected blow" that will cause significant damage, including forcing Israel to pay billions for existing defense contracts and harming joint initiatives like laser technology. Opposition lawmaker Moshe Tur-Paz of Yesh Atid called cutting aid "a major mistake," noting the $3.8 billion annual sum supports collaborations worth 12 billion shekels. President Isaac Herzog said the statement hit him "like a bolt from the blue." The current memorandum of understanding runs through 2028, and it remains unclear how easily the White House can stop funding this year.