Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party, attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today (Tuesday) following President Donald Trump’s announcement that annual U.S. military aid to Israel will end. Eisenkot said the security establishment learned about “a change in the strategic relationship” along with Israeli citizens—through the media—and called for replacing the prime minister. “We can no longer trust him and must replace him,” the Yashar chairman said, demanding Netanyahu provide answers to the public by tonight.
1+Trump told Fox News’ morning show that he and Netanyahu agreed months ago to end the aid, which totals about $4 billion annually. The American president noted that the prime minister raised the idea himself, and that Israel no longer needs the money. “From now on we’ll help Israel if it needs it. It’s been a great ally,” Trump added.
1+Back in May, Netanyahu told CBS’s “60 Minutes” that he aims to gradually reduce Israel’s dependence on American aid until it reaches zero. In that same interview, the prime minister said he had already discussed the plan with Trump. The current agreement between the countries was signed in 2016 during the Obama administration and grants Israel $38 billion from 2019 through 2028.
Meanwhile, coalition parties—except for United Torah Judaism—announced they will recommend Netanyahu to the president as the one to form the next government. The recommendations are expected to be delivered tomorrow at the President’s Residence.