Netanyahu Hopes to 'Taper' Off US Aid (After One Last $14 Billion Boost)
The New Arab reports Netanyahu expressed a desire for Israel to rely more on its own arms industry, eventually tapering off U.S. military assistance. This sounds almost magnanimous, if one ignores the fact that in March 2024, President Biden signed into law a bill providing Israel with an additional $14.1 billion in security assistance. This follows a standing agreement of $3.8 billion annually,
ensuring a steady supply of U.S. taxpayer-funded weaponry, irrespective of Netanyahu's 'hopes.' One might recall Netanyahu making similar 'tapering off' noises in 2002, 2006, and 2014, often just before or after securing another massive aid package. It appears this 'taper' is less a reduction and more a rhetorical prelude to the next, even larger, military invoice picked up by American taxpayers.
Perhaps the goal isn't self-sufficiency, but simply to diversify the arms portfolio. Who needs a direct aid tap when you can have a firehose?