Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is looking to “taper off” U.S. military aid to Israel. This comes as the current memorandum of understanding on U.S. assistance is set to expire this year, with renewal talks already underway in the Trump administration.
But first, a bit of context.
Contrary to popular belief about Israel’s puppet-like relationship with the U.S., the aid memorandum is only about 30 years old. When it was first introduced, its goal was to give Israel long-term stability for defense planning by locking in predictable levels of U.S. military support.
The first MOU also marked a major shift away from direct economic aid and toward military assistance.
Each MOU lasts 10 years. The first renewal came under George W. Bush, the second under Barack Obama—both expanding the amount of aid by billions. Now, as the third renewal approaches, Netanyahu is looking to do the opposite.
At first glance, it might sound like a falling out. But in practice, this isn’t about cutting ties—it’s about restructuring the relationship.
The driving force here isn’t an Israeli realignment so much as an American one. Donald Trump administration’s foreign policy has tilted toward a more isolationist approach, and the diplomatic and PR costs of maintaining large-scale foreign aid have begun to outweigh the benefits for Jerusalem.
Not to mention, it’s entirely possible that a less friendly administration in 2028 could leave the IDF scrambling for supplies in a future war scenario.
This move isn’t unexpected. We heard echoes of this when 2,000-pound U.S. bombs became the subject of a dispute over whether they were intentionally or unintentionally delayed in 2024, and again almost explicitly during Bibi’s “Super-Sparta” speech in September 2025.
The shortages during the war, the shift in American public opinion, and the friction with the Joe Biden administration all made one thing clear: the relationship could not continue as it was.
Even so, Israel is expected to continue receiving aid under the new arrangement—but with one key clause: a 10-year commitment to end U.S. assistance entirely.
Don’t be fooled. While this is a signal of realignment, it’s also a 10-year aid guarantee dressed as a disengagement.
Ten years is a long horizon—enough time for Israel to adapt and gradually wean itself off American support. In some ways, it echoes what happened in the 1990s, when civilian aid was phased out during Netanyahu’s first term.
But this time, the change is less Israel’s choice and more a product of shifting global circumstances.
Still, a new Israel–U.S. understanding—one built on cooperation rather than dependence—is a relationship from which Israel has much to gain, and even more to offer.
VIDEO: Raphael Ben Levi of Misgav Institute speaks with Nicole Zedeck on i24 News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W4t2w_HEI0
