US President Donald Trump has announced that the aid the United States provides to Israel, about $4 billion a year (roughly Rs 38,000 crore), will be discontinued at the end of this year.
The United States has long given Israel billions of dollars in military and economic support. Trump said clearly that this assistance will now come to an end.
“We give Israel up to $4 billion a year in goods and money. They have grown into an economically strong country and no longer need that funding. After the end of this year, we will not provide funds to Israel,” Trump said.
Trump said he discussed the matter at length with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to him, the issue has been under consideration for many years, and Netanyahu understood and accepted his decision.
Trump noted that left-wing groups and Democrats in the US had criticised the aid, calling it unjust that taxpayers’ money goes to Israel, and said the decision is meant to leave them with nothing to argue about. He added that Israel can still purchase military equipment from the United States, which he said is always ready to manufacture and sell the weapons Israel needs.
