Latest / Israel Today: Ongoing War Report / Trump Cuts US Military Aid to Israel Two Years Early

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Trump Cuts US Military Aid to Israel Two Years Early · Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

• 0:08
  Speaker 1: You're listening to Israel Today ongoing war report. I'm Noah Levi.
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  Speaker 1: US President Donald Trump has reportedly shocked top officials from
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  Speaker 1: Israel's defense establishment, the foreign ministry, and the finance ministry
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  Speaker 1: with a sudden announcement. On live television, Trump declared the
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  Speaker 1: unexpected end of decades of US military aid to Israel,
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  Speaker 1: cutting it short by two years. This move, which Israel
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  Speaker 1: had planned to see end in 2028 according to a
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  Speaker 1: 2018 MOU, is now slated to halt in 2026, or
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  Speaker 1: potentially 2027 according to one report. Trump stated he agreed
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  Speaker 1: with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on ending the approximately $ 3. 8
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  Speaker 1: billion in annual support early, though Israeli officials hope he misspoke.
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  Speaker 1: This announcement could force Israel to fund weapons purchases itself,
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  Speaker 1: potentially delaying acquisitions of key systems like F-35 and F-15
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  Speaker 1: aircraft and rethinking joint missile defence projects, impacting a defence
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  Speaker 1: budget already strained by escalating threats. On the security front,
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  Speaker 1: Israeli intelligence has provided the United States with information suggesting
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  Speaker 1: Iran is advancing technology to mount chemical weapons on missiles.
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  Speaker 1: According to reporting citing American and regional officials, Israeli intelligence
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  Speaker 1: officials believe Iran is rapidly developing this capability, presenting it
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  Speaker 1: as a more urgent threat than its nuclear ambitions. However,
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  Speaker 1: US officials are divided, with some expressing concern and others
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  Speaker 1: deep scepticism, viewing it as potential pressure from the Netanyahu government.
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  Speaker 1: While there's little disagreement that Iran is developing chemical weapons,
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  Speaker 1: the debate centres on whether its leaders would actually deploy them.
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  Speaker 1: Reports indicate mounting chemical weapons on ballistic missiles is not
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  Speaker 1: particularly difficult, though effective dispersal and smuggling present complications. Meanwhile,
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  Speaker 1: in Syria, the country's new government has increasingly targeted Hezbollah-linked
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  Speaker 1: networks since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024.
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  Speaker 1: Syrian state media reported a recent raid, where security forces
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  Speaker 1: foiled a plot targeting the Homs refinery, arresting members of
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  Speaker 1: a cell affiliated with Hezbollah and seizing explosives. This action
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  Speaker 1: is part of a pattern by Syrian forces to dismantle
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  Speaker 1: Hezbollah operations and weapons smuggling routes, viewing the group as
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  Speaker 1: a threat after years of support for the Assad regime. Domestically,
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  Speaker 1: a serious accusation has emerged regarding the Shin Bet. Yair Golan,
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  Speaker 1: chairman of the Democrats, stated that Shin Bet head David
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  Speaker 1: Zinni has turned the agency into a political tool in
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  Speaker 1: service of Prime Minister Netanyahu's campaign to undermine election results.
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  Speaker 1: Golan called this a serious warning. and urged the formation
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  Speaker 1: of a change government to examine appointments. The Joint List
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  Speaker 1: has also condemned Zinni's alleged attempt to open investigations against
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  Speaker 1: Arab elected officials, viewing it as part of a Likud-led
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  Speaker 1: campaign against the Arab public and their political representation, stating
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  Speaker 1: that Zinni, appointed by Netanyahu, acts as a political arm.
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  Speaker 1: In the United States, US President Donald Trump has urged
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  Speaker 1: the Jewish community in Monsey, New York, to vote for
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  Speaker 1: Republican Congressman Mike Lawler. praising Lawler's record in combating antisemitism
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  Speaker 1: and advocating for religious freedom. This comes as reports indicate
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  Speaker 1: an increase in antisemitic hate crimes in New York City. Separately,
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  Speaker 1: four Jewish school buses in Williamsburg were recently spray-painted with
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  Speaker 1: antisemitic and anti-Zionist graffiti. In business news, over 1,500 people
• 3:39
  Speaker 1: were held up in Greece after a bomb threat was
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  Speaker 1: made against an Israeli-run cruise ship. Security checks were conducted,
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  Speaker 1: and Israeli intelligence agencies were involved in discussions regarding the incident,
• 3:51
  Speaker 1: which is now awaiting further sweeps before resuming its journey. Finally,
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  Speaker 1: in a show of solidarity, iconic singer Boy George visited
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  Speaker 1: the site of the Nova music festival massacre in Reim.
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  Speaker 1: He expressed his support for Israelis and Jews, with planned
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  Speaker 1: performances in Tel Aviv featuring his song, We Will Dance Again,
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  Speaker 1: a motto for Nova survivors. Sylvan Adams of World Jewish Congress,
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  Speaker 1: Israel arranged the concerts. and praised Boy George's decision to
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  Speaker 1: visit during a time when other artists have boycotted the country.
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  Speaker 1: For continuing coverage of antisemitism around the world, listen to
• 4:24
  Speaker 1: Antisemitism Watch from Clockwork Media. Find it at clockworkmedia.org slash watch.
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  Speaker 1: I'm Noah Levi, thank you for listening to Israel Today
• 4:33
  Speaker 1: Ongoing War Report. Stay safe and informed. Follow Israel Today
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  Speaker 1: Ongoing War Report in your podcast app so you don't
• 4:40
  Speaker 1: miss the next update. Keep in mind that this AI-generated
• 4:43
  Speaker 1: report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for
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  Speaker 1: a comprehensive view.