Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Tuesday that he highly appreciates the support Israel has received from its "American friends," but noted that they need to free themselves from dependency and "build their own independent weapons system."
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Speaking during a meeting with a class of reserve officers in Gush Etzion, the Prime Minister added: "We must free ourselves from dependency, build more capabilities, introduce more technology, and train more generations of leaders," according to the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
Regarding the conflict with Iran, Netanyahu asserted that Israel has dealt a heavy blow to it and its proxies in the region, emphasizing that the operation is not over yet.
Netanyahu had previously stated in earlier remarks that he hopes Israel can phase out US military aid within the next ten years.
In a television interview with CBS, Netanyahu said he wishes to end the financial component of military cooperation with the United States, adding: "I want to reduce US financial support to zero."
He explained that Israel currently receives about $3.8 billion annually in US military aid under a previous agreement stipulating that Washington provide military assistance totaling $38 billion between 2018 and 2028.
Netanyahu indicated that the present time represents an appropriate opportunity to reshape the financial relationship between the two countries, saying: "I don't want to wait for the next Congress... I want to start now."
