Netanyahu Pushes 10-Year Phaseout of US Military Aid
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- Netanyahu met Trump at the White House on Tuesday for 90 minutes — their first sitdown since the Iran war started Feb. 28 — with Iran policy dominating the conversation
- Netanyahu told Trump he is skeptical a deal with Iran can be reached; they discussed three options — a negotiated deal, continuing the naval blockade plus economic pressure, or resuming military strikes
- Iran launched a missile attack on a US base in Jordan hours after the meeting ended — its first strike since Trump paused US operations on Friday — prompting Trump to vow a serious response on Fox News
- Netanyahu told Trump Iran is using control of the Strait of Hormuz as its remaining leverage, while describing fuel shortages, diesel scarcity, gas station lines, and small public protests inside Iran
- Netanyahu proposed phasing out all US military aid to Israel within 10 years, contingent on a new MOU providing $16 billion in direct aid, $5–10 billion for missile defense, and a $16 billion joint R&D fund
- Netanyahu has instructed Israel's defense sector to develop a domestically built modern fighter jet within a decade so the air force can operate without US F-35 supplies
- Netanyahu presented Trump a Syria map claiming Turkey controls 5% of Syrian territory versus 0.1% for Israel, and discussed tying the US-Saudi nuclear deal to Saudi normalization with Israel
Why it matters: Netanyahu is asking the US to bankroll Israel's exit from American military aid — a proposed $16 billion direct package plus $5–10 billion for missile defense — while simultaneously preparing for escalation. Iran's retaliatory strike on a Jordan base hours after the sitdown could push Trump toward resuming combat rather than continuing Witkoff and Kushner's diplomatic track.
