Netanyahu: 'Not a Protectorate,' Just $3.8 Billion a Year
Netanyahu asserts Israel is “not a protectorate of the US,” as if the annual $3.8 billion in US military aid, guaranteed until 2028 per a 2016 MOU, is merely a friendly gesture. This isn't the first time he's played the 'independent partner' card; he’s been publicly admonishing US policy since at least 1996, while simultaneously accepting billions. One might wonder if 'protectorate' is just a
rebrand for 'dependent sovereign state with a very loud mouth.' Perhaps Netanyahu envisions a future where US foreign aid isn't explicitly tied to purchasing US weapons, allowing him to truly prove his point. Until then, how many 'independent' nations receive such generous, unconditional stipends from their alleged equal? The fact remains: when a significant portion of your national defense budget
comes from another nation's taxpayers, the 'protectorate' label might sting, but it sure makes sense to anyone outside the Beltway echo chamber.