Israel says it is 'appreciative to the American people' for the decades of military aid

Israeli Prime Minister Benjaim Netanyahu's office said Friday that it is "greatly appreciative of the American people," for its decades of military assistance after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would stop sending military aid to Israel by the end of the year.

The president made the announcement Tuesday, stating that Israel is now in a position to purchase its own weapons and doesn't need the U.S. to fund them, and that the idea originated with Netanyahu. 

"U.S. military aid to Israel has always been a cross-the-aisle agreement. Israel has used it both to defend itself and to confront enemies who threaten America and the West," Netanyahu's office said on X. "Today, Israel has a strong and stable economy. 

"The move by PM Netanyahu and President Trump from aid to partnership shows the strength and sophistication of our relationship, and its ability to adapt and stand strong over time," the office added.

The prime minister's spokesperson praised the U.S.'s decades of investment, which occurred under both Republican and Democratic presidential administrations. 

The U.S. provides approximately $3.8 billion annually, which was previously scheduled to continue through 2028 under the current U.S.-Israel security assistance agreement. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.