Israeli Politicsupdated 22m ago3 min read
Gadi Eisenkot Demands Answers After Trump Says Washington Will Stop Military Aid
“making it ever more likely that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will seek war as a means of perpetuating his rule.”
“A third scenario – neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot forms a large enough coalition, meaning another round of balloting in a few months’ time”
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Gadi Eisenkot demands Netanyahu answers after Trump announces end of US military aid. Trump said aid would stop by year-end, surprising Finance Ministry officials.
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Aid dispute and demands
Gadi Eisenkot said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must give answers after US President Donald Trump said Washington will stop providing military aid to Israel by the end of the year. Eisenkot argued that “The fact that the defense establishment, along with Israeli citizens, is learning through the media about a change in the strategic relationship shows just how much Netanyahu’s conduct poses a real danger,” and he added, “He can no longer be trusted and must be replaced.” Israeli finance and defense officials told Hebrew media reports that they were surprised by Trump’s claim, with a senior defense official saying, “We did not expect this announcement, certainly not today,” and that “There is ongoing dialogue with the Americans.”
“He can no longer be trusted and must be replaced.”
The Prime Minister’s Office was expected to comment on Trump’s statement soon, while Trump said in a Fox News phone interview that he and Netanyahu had agreed months ago to end the aid. The memorandum of understanding cited in the account provides Israel $3.8 billion annually through September 2028, even as Trump’s announcement pointed to an end by the end of the year.
Gaza talks stall
Negotiations over the future of the Gaza Strip reached a standstill as Washington pressed for implementation of Donald Trump’s plan to end the war, while Hamas remained armed and the IDF continued targeting operatives. The political deadlock followed Israel’s October 27 election, and Israeli officials said they did not know what Israel’s governing policy toward Gaza would look like in the coming months. Israeli security officials assessed that Hamas was preparing an international public relations campaign focused on the humanitarian consequences of the approaching winter, with the expectation that Hamas would highlight weather-related damage and shortages of warm clothing and essential supplies.
The IDF continued operating against Hamas terrorists, and the account said Southern Command forces remained deployed in accordance with the agreement while operations to eliminate threats would continue. Preparations advanced for the “Green Rafah” pilot project, with the IDF concentrating efforts in the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah and sealing underground tunnels ahead of a planned launch.
Coalition math and next steps
Israel’s election produced no clear winner, with neither Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc nor the anti-Netanyahu bloc reaching the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. The final results described Netanyahu’s bloc holding about 53 seats and the anti-Netanyahu bloc holding about 48 seats, with Likud at 27 and Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar at 21. The account said President Isaac Herzog would consult with the elected parties and task a Knesset member with trying to form a government, while it warned that without a majority the opposition could form a majority and shoot down legislation at any time.
The same account said the government must approve a national budget every year, and if it fails to do so by the legal deadline the Knesset automatically dissolves and early elections are held. A separate account said Crisis Group expert Mairav Zonszein highlighted record turnout among Israel’s Palestinian Arab citizens, and it said Netanyahu could remain caretaker premier for the time being while the fight for power began.