Netanyahu Says Israel Will End Dependence on U.S. Military Aid in Next Decade

Netanyahu said he wants Israel to wean itself from the remaining military support and start the process now rather than wait for the next Congress. The comments came during an interview conducted yesterday with CBS News correspondent Major Garrett, Netanyahu's first U.S. broadcast interview since the current conflict with Iran began.

The ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran was tested again on Monday by suspected Iranian drone strikes in the Persian Gulf. Netanyahu said the war with Iran accomplished a great deal but is not over because nuclear material, enriched uranium, enrichment sites, proxies and ballistic missile production capacity remain.

He said the highly enriched uranium should be physically removed from Iran, adding that President Trump had told him "I want to go in there" and that it could be done if there is an agreement. When asked whether it could be taken out by force without an agreement, Netanyahu declined to discuss military possibilities or plans.

He declined to provide a timetable for removing the material but called it a terrifically important mission.

Hours before the interview, Israel targeted Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, the second front in the broader conflict. Netanyahu said the war with Iran could end while the war with Hezbollah continues as separate battlefields. He rejected the idea that a ceasefire with Iran should automatically extend to Hezbollah, which he said wants to continue to hold Lebanon hostage.

Netanyahu stated that Israel wants to eliminate the danger posed by Hezbollah rockets fired at its cities and communities. " He said it is possible but not guaranteed to topple the Iranian regime. Netanyahu disputed aspects of a New York Times report about his February 11 meeting with Trump in the Situation Room, denying that he presented regime change as guaranteed or that his team outlined conditions pointing to certain victory.

He acknowledged both sides recognized uncertainty and risk in taking action but agreed there was greater danger in not acting. Netanyahu said the risk to Iran of choking off the Strait of Hormuz became better understood as the fighting continued.

“I want to draw down to zero the American financial support, the financial component of the military cooperation that we have... He reported hearing from some Arab countries that strengthening ties with Israel would deter Iran and enable cooperation on energy, artificial intelligence and quantum technology. The prime minister confirmed China provided a certain amount of support and components for missile manufacturing to Iran but said he could not provide further details. He said he did not like it. Netanyahu attributed much of the decline in U.S. public support for Israel to social media, which he called the eighth front of the war. A recent Pew survey found 60 percent of U.S. adults hold an unfavorable view of Israel, up nearly 20 points in four years. He said Israel has gone to great lengths to warn civilians in Gaza and Lebanon through text messages, phone calls and leaflets. Netanyahu acknowledged that in war armies sometimes miss and civilians die but said these are mistakes, not deliberate acts. The International Criminal Court has accused Netanyahu of war crimes related to Israel's conduct in Gaza, where the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reports more than 70,000 people killed. Netanyahu said Hamas must be disarmed, Gaza demilitarized and deradicalized, adding that if Israel must do it then it will choose the time and circumstances.”

In a separate development, Pennsylvania Gov.

Josh Shapiro is quietly trying to derail progressive state lawmaker Chris Rabb in a competitive three-way Democratic primary for a U.S. House seat on May 19. New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has endorsed Rabb, is expected to campaign for him in Philadelphia this month and has fundraised on his behalf.

Shapiro and his team have privately told allies he disapproves of Rabb and have taken steps to block his path, according to three people familiar with the discussions. Shapiro has advised Philadelphia building trades unions backing another candidate, Sharif Street, to avoid negative ads against a third contender, Ala Stanford.

Rabb has clashed with Shapiro for years, including by calling on him to stop state collaboration with ICE and by speaking at a protest during the governor's book tour. The contest represents an early test between the Democratic Party's liberal and centrist wings.