United States: Donald Trump’s blow to Israel at the heart of controversy

Donald Trump announced that the United States would end its annual $3.8 billion in aid to Israel, saying he had reached an agreement with Benjamin Netanyahu and that Israel could do without the funds. The announcement came on U.S. midterm election day and after Israeli elections in which neither Netanyahu’s bloc nor Gadi Eisenkot’s bloc won a majority. Eisenkot criticized the lack of consultation and called for Netanyahu to leave office. The current security assistance agreement provides $38 billion over ten years, including funding for arms purchases and missile defense, while U.S. support for Israel’s Gaza offensive remains deeply divisive.