Netanyahu Proposes Ending U.S. Military Aid to Israel Over Next Decade

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a May 10 interview on "60 Minutes" that Israel should begin weaning itself from U.S. military assistance. "Because we receive $3.8 billion a year. And I think that it's time that we weaned ourselves from the remaining military support," Netanyahu said.

"Let's start now and do it over the next decade, over the next ten years, but I want to start now.

Netanyahu attributed the decline in U.S. support in part to the influence of social media. He made the aid-reduction proposal as CNN senior data analyst Harry Enten highlighted polling shifts. A Pew Research Center survey found that 59% of U.S. adults expressed no confidence in Netanyahu on world affairs in 2026, compared with 42% in 2023.

Enten described an age divide inside the Republican Party, with 58% of younger Republicans ages 18 to 49 expressing disapproval compared with 30% for those 50 and older.

An Ipsos poll conducted May 6 found 58% of Americans disapproved of the Iran conflict, while an Economist/YouGov survey from March showed 60% opposition. A separate Pew survey released last month indicated 60% of U.S. adults hold an unfavorable view of Israel, a 20-point increase over four years. No immediate policy changes to assistance levels have been announced by either government.

Netanyahu and Israeli officials met with the White House on Feb. 11 to argue that military action against Iran was necessary. The State Department later stated in an April 21 release that the U.S. entered the conflict on Israel's behalf. Netanyahu added that the Iran war "is not over" and referenced discussions about removing Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium.