Netanyahu Proposes Ending U.S. Military Aid Within 10 Years

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu placed Israel’s military independence at the center of his Feb. 15, 2026 address in Jerusalem, declaring that the country can afford to eliminate the financial component of U.S. military aid within a decade.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Netanyahu outlined what he described as a strategic shift toward full defense self-sufficiency.

“We Will Support Ourselves”

Netanyahu proposed reducing U.S. military financial assistance to zero over 10 years — covering the remaining three years of the current memorandum of understanding and an additional seven-year period.

“Israel will support itself, just as we fight for ourselves,” he said, framing the move as both economically feasible and strategically necessary. The objective, he added, is to expand Israel’s domestic arms production capacity and reduce long-term dependency.

The statement marks one of the clearest signals yet from Netanyahu that Israel aims to redefine the structure of its long-standing security relationship with Washington.

“We Have to Complete the Job”

On Gaza, Netanyahu said Israeli forces have dismantled roughly 150 kilometers of an estimated 500-kilometer tunnel network. He stressed that operations must continue until the infrastructure is fully neutralized.

“Gaza will not pose a threat ever again to the State of Israel,” he said, reinforcing a hardline security posture.

Expanding Global Alliances

Netanyahu also highlighted deepening strategic ties with India, noting that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Israel. He described the relationship as a “tremendous alliance” encompassing defense and technological cooperation.

He added that Germany’s chancellor recently visited Israel to discuss significant investment in the Israeli defense industry.

Cyber, AI and Strategic Power

Pointing to Israel’s technological rise, Netanyahu said the country ranks second globally in cyber power and receives more foreign investment in cyber technology than any nation except the United States, in absolute terms. He pledged to replicate that success in artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

Iran and Antisemitism

Turning to regional threats, Netanyahu accused Iran of duplicity, stating that Tehran “lies and cheats.” He also devoted a significant portion of his remarks to the historical persistence of antisemitism, urging Jewish communities worldwide to “fight back” and confront disinformation campaigns.