Trump says US will suspend financial aid to Israel at year-end
In a Fox News interview, the president said he agreed with Netanyahu to end the payments; the White House was contacted for clarification, BBC says.
Translated from the Portuguese original by the Panorama newsroom. Read in Portuguese
Summary written by the Panorama newsroom from the sources listed below. Facts are attributed to the original publications.
US President Donald Trump announced that the United States will stop funding Israel at the end of the year, following an agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, BBC News Mundo reported.
In a phone interview with Fox News on Tuesday (3), Trump said the pact was made "months ago." He said Israel no longer needs American funding and that the US will help the country "if necessary," and may also sell weapons to Israel.
According to the BBC, it is unclear which funds Trump was referring to. A memorandum of understanding provides for US$ 3.8 billion a year in military assistance to Israel through the end of 2028. The broadcaster contacted the White House to ask for clarification, and Netanyahu's office had not yet commented.
Trump also accused Democrats of using aid to Israel as an argument to attack Republicans. In May, in an interview with CBS, Netanyahu said he wants to bring American financial support to zero over ten years and to start now, without waiting for the next Congress.
The BBC recalls that Israel is the country that has received the most US foreign aid throughout history.