Prime Minister Netanyahu declares Israel is pursuing full defense and economic independence, rejecting reports of long-term U.S. aid deals.
In a bold statement underscoring Israel’s growing strategic confidence, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the Jewish state is moving toward greater independence and reduced reliance on U.S. aid, reaffirming that Israel will fight its own battles — and win them.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Australian journalist Erin Molan, Netanyahu dismissed an Axios report claiming Israel was pursuing a 20-year security agreement with Washington.
“My direction is the exact opposite,” Netanyahu said firmly. “Israel is becoming stronger, more self-reliant, and determined to stand on its own.”
The Prime Minister recalled his historic 1996 address to the U.S. Congress, when he declared that Israel should begin phasing out American financial assistance.
“Everybody gasped — ‘How dare he give up billions of dollars?’ But I was happy to do it, and I was right to do it,” he said.
Netanyahu emphasized that Israel’s defense ecosystem is now among the most advanced in the world.
“Our military aid is a fraction of what the U.S. spent in Afghanistan or across the Middle East — it’s tiny,” he explained. “We have a very strong economy, a very strong arms industry, and even the assistance we do receive mostly circulates back into the U.S. economy — 80% of it creates American jobs.”
He underscored a central tenet of Israel’s defense philosophy — self-reliance and partnership, not dependency.
“Israel doesn’t ask others to fight for us. We’re the one American ally that says, ‘No boots on the ground, no American soldiers fighting our wars.’ We handle our own defense — but in doing so, we protect American interests too, preventing regimes that chant ‘Death to America’ from acquiring nuclear weapons.”
Netanyahu revealed that Israel’s next strategic discussions will focus on deepening this independence, particularly by boosting local arms production, cyber-defense capabilities, and regional deterrence.
“Israel is already on the path to full independence,” he said. “We’re not just surviving — we’re leading. And I’ll have more to say about that very soon.”
Analysis: Israel’s Shift from Aid to Alliance
Netanyahu’s remarks mark a philosophical pivot — from viewing American assistance as vital to seeing Israel as a self-sustaining powerhouse, capable of both defending its citizens and advancing Western security interests across the Middle East.
The statement also reinforces a message long central to Netanyahu’s worldview: a strong, self-reliant Israel is the most valuable ally America could have.
As Israel’s defense industries — from Iron Dome to Arrow-3 — achieve export-level innovation, the country is well on track to redefine its relationship with Washington: not as aid recipient, but as equal strategic partner.
“Israel will always cherish its alliance with America,” a senior Israeli official said, “but dependence was never the Zionist vision. Independence was.”
