Israeli group seeks probe into aid waiver
Advocates argue the $4 billion US defense cut may be linked to the president's support for the prime minister ahead of elections.
By Dominic Foster ·
The annual US defense assistance package for Israel could lose roughly $4 billion if a recent agreement between the two leaders is finalized. A domestic advocacy group has formally asked Israeli authorities to determine whether political interests influenced the decision to end the funding.
The Movement for the Quality of Government (MQG) submitted an appeal on November 3. The document was sent to Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, the State Attorney, the police commissioner, and senior investigators. The group requested a criminal inquiry into whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu breached public trust or bribed a foreign official.
MQG stated that the reported decision was made without input from the defense establishment or the Israel Defense Forces. The current aid agreement was scheduled to remain in effect until 2028. Terminating the deal during the final two years would remove approximately $7.6 billion from Israel's defense budget.
The group noted a discrepancy between this move and previous government plans. Netanyahu had previously outlined a strategy to reduce reliance on American aid gradually over a period of ten years. MQG asked investigators to review how the rapid termination of the agreement aligns with that long-term framework.
The appeal also links the timing of the decision to upcoming political events. Trump said he agreed with Netanyahu, at the prime minister's initiative, to end the assistance. MQG wants investigators to examine if this agreement connects to Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu for the 2026 Israeli election. The group also questioned why the news broke on the day of the US midterm elections.
Yaniv Goldberg, head of the MQG's Economic Department, emphasized the need for transparency. He stated, "Israel's security funds must not serve as compensation for personal political support." Goldberg added that the reports raise serious questions about the mixing of national and political interests. He concluded that the public has a right to know the terms of the agreement and who will bear the financial cost.
Investigators are asked to identify all participants in the decision-making process. They must determine if the Defense Ministry and Finance Ministry were consulted and what assessments guided the action. The inquiry will focus on whether reasonable suspicion of offenses exists based on the available evidence.
