Netanyahu wants to wean Israel off US military support, he tells CBS

AI Summary

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed a desire for Israel to reduce its reliance on U.S. military support over the next decade, indicating a shift towards strengthening regional ties, particularly with Gulf states. This move could significantly impact U.S.-Israel relations.

May 10 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hopes to wean Israel off U.S. military support within a decade as his country pushes to strengthen ties with Gulf states, he said in an interview that aired on Sunday. "I want to draw down to zero the American financial support, the financial component of the military cooperation that we have," Netanyahu told CBS News' "60 Minutes" program. Israel receives about $3.8 billion of U.S. military aid a year, he said. The U.S. has agreed to provide a total of $38 billion in military aid to Israel from 2018to 2028.