Netanyahu Says He Wants to Wean Israel Off US Aid as Iran Targets Senior Officials

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his Washington visit to reiterate a long held ambition to reduce Israel’s dependence on American military aid, even as reports emerged that Iran has intensified efforts to harm senior Israeli officials.

An Israeli official said Netanyahu, during his meetings in the American capital, restated his desire to gradually wean Israel off United States assistance, framing it as part of a broader push for military and economic self reliance. The prime minister has previously announced a major expansion of Israel’s defense budget, roughly 350 billion shekels over the coming decade, aimed at building domestic production of munitions and reducing reliance on foreign supply chains. The remarks reflect a vision of an Israel less bound to Washington’s constraints, though the country remains deeply reliant on American arms and diplomatic backing during the ongoing war.

At the same time, the security establishment is on heightened alert. Several Hebrew language reports indicated that Israeli intelligence believes Iran has stepped up its attempts to target current and former senior officials. Figures thought to be at risk were reportedly briefed this week on Tehran’s intensified efforts, and the Shin Bet security agency is said to have increased protection for several individuals identified as potential targets. The threat assessment adds a personal dimension to a war that has already reshaped the region.

The political calendar sharpens the stakes. With Israeli elections set for October 27, the campaign of former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot has entered the fray, and the intersection of security threats, the war, and domestic politics is becoming increasingly charged. Netanyahu described his Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump as one of the best they have ever had, and is widely seen as seeking Trump’s implicit backing heading into the vote.

The dual themes of Netanyahu’s Washington trip, greater independence from American aid on one hand and continued reliance on American power against Iran on the other, capture a central tension in Israel’s position. As the war grinds on across multiple fronts and Iranian threats reach toward Israel’s leadership, the country is navigating between the desire for autonomy and the reality of a conflict in which its most powerful ally still holds many of the key decisions.