Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed surprise and concern over US President Donald Trump's announcement to end US aid to Israel. The announcement was made on the day of the US midterm elections. Herzog stated that the issue of American aid worries him greatly and that it fell on him like a bolt from the blue. Israel has a memorandum of understanding with the US that is supposed to last until 2028.
Trump's announcement means that US aid to Israel will end this year, two years ahead of the formal end of the memorandum of understanding. The MoU provides Israel with $3.8 billion per year to purchase American weaponry. However, Trump offered few details in his announcement, which was made in an Election Day phone interview with Fox News. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not made any public comment on the announcement.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee defended military aid to Israel, which has grown increasingly unpopular in both the Democratic and Republican parties. He stated that Americans need to know the value of the relationship between the US and Israel. Huckabee disagreed with Vice President JD Vance, who said that the relationship with Israel contributed to Republican losses in the midterms.
Herzog faces a crucial task following elections in his own country. Gadi Eisenkot emerged with a majority of the incoming Israeli Knesset's backing after Herzog's meetings with the elected parties. Herzog held two days of consultations with representatives of all the parties elected to the incoming Knesset. Netanyahu secured the backing of only 46 seats, leaving him far short of the 61-seat majority needed.
Eisenkot secured the backing of lawmakers holding 67 seats, but 19 of those are held by Arab-led parties, complicating his path to oust Israel's longest-serving leader. Herzog must now decide who gets the mandate to form the next government, a decision he said he will make on Sunday. The results of the consultations may appear clear, but the authority vested in Herzog by law is to determine who has the ability to form a government.
Eisenkot's party expects to receive the mandate to form a government, citing the clear parliamentary majority and the people's choice for change. The party stated that Netanyahu has no mandate, no majority, and no trust of the people. Whoever is chosen will have 28 days to negotiate with other parties over cabinet posts, budgets, and policies.
Until Israel has a new government, Netanyahu will remain caretaker prime minister. Netanyahu is still challenging the election results and claims the vote was "stolen" by Arab-led parties through bribery, foreign funding, and fraud. The opposition says he is trying to delay the swearing in of the Knesset and prevent plans to replace the Knesset speaker with a lawmaker from the opposition.
Key points
- Israeli President Isaac Herzog expresses concern over US aid cut to Israel
- US aid to Israel will end this year, two years ahead of the formal end of the memorandum of understanding
- Herzog must decide who gets the mandate to form the next Israeli government
