Netanyahu Tells 60 Minutes He Wants Israel to Have ‘Zero’ US Financial Support: ‘It’s Time’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his goal is for his country to receive “zero” tax dollars from the United States — and he would like for it to happen sooner than later.

Netanyahu shared his plan during an interview with 60 Minutes on Sunday.

“Do you believe it’s time for the state of Israel to reexamine and possibly reset its financial relationship with the United States, meaning what the United States provides to Israel on an annual basis,” correspondent Major Garrett asked.

“Absolutely,” Netanyahu told him.

He explained, “I want to draw down to zero the American financial support — the financial component of the military cooperation that we have — because we receive $3.8 billion per year. And I think it’s time we weaned ourselves from the remaining military support.”

Netanyahu said he had already told this to Israeli lawmakers and to President Donald Trump, whose “jaws dropped” when they heard it.

When Garrett asked him what his timeline was for it, Netanyahu said, “Let’s start now and do it over the next decade.”

As Netanyahu mentioned, the U.S. is scheduled to pay Israel $3.8 billion per year through 2028.

The two countries have worked together on the Iran war, including the strikes that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at the end of February.

But the U.S.-Israeli relationship has been criticized by many lawmakers and pundits in recent years, including by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who vowed last month to oppose all military aid to Israel. 

And Tucker Carlson has routinely bashed Israel on his show, arguing the war is being “waged” strictly on behalf of the small country.

Trump has punched back against critics who have made similar claims, saying in March, “If anything, I might’ve forced Israel’s hand.”

Later in his interview on Sunday, Netanyahu said social media deserves a large slice of blame for support for Israel crumbling in the West in recent years. Garrett pointed to a Pew survey that found 60% of Americans had an unfavorable view of Israel, up 20 points in four years.

Netanyahu said social media has made it easy for anti-Israel commentators to warp the conversation, especially after the Hamas terror attack in October 2023.

Watch above via CBS.

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