Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is signaling a dramatic change in one of the most important alliances in modern geopolitics.

In a recent interview on CBS News' “60 Minutes,” Netanyahu revealed that he wants Israel to eventually phase out American military aid over the next decade.

At the same time, he stressed that Israel is strengthening ties with Gulf nations while continuing its aggressive campaign against Iran and its terror network across the Middle East.

The comments come during a tense moment for the region because Israel and the United States remain locked in a high stakes confrontation with Iran.

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Although critics in Washington continue to question the strategy, supporters argue that strong leadership from both Jerusalem and the White House has forced Iran and its proxies into a defensive position for the first time in years.

“I want to draw down to zero the American financial support, the financial component of the military cooperation that we have,” Netanyahu told CBS News' “60 Minutes” program.

Israel currently receives roughly $3.8 billion annually in military assistance from the United States. Under an agreement signed years ago, the U.S. committed to providing Israel with $38 billion in aid between 2018 and 2028.

However, Netanyahu indicated that he believes the current moment presents an opportunity to rethink the arrangement.

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“It is absolutely” the right time to possibly reset the financial relationship between the two allies, Netanyahu explained. “I don't want to wait for the next Congress. I want to start now.”

The remarks are notable because American military aid to Israel has long enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington. However, the political climate has changed significantly since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.

Public opinion polling now shows growing skepticism toward Israel among some Americans, particularly younger voters and left leaning activists.

According to a Pew survey conducted in March, 60 percent of U.S. adults now hold an unfavorable view of Israel. At the same time, 59 percent said they had little or no confidence in Netanyahu regarding world affairs.

Netanyahu pushed back hard against the changing political mood. He argued that much of the hostility toward Israel has been fueled by manipulation on social media platforms.

He said deteriorating support for Israel in the United States “correlates almost 100% with the geometric rise of social media.”

The Israeli leader also claimed that several foreign countries have “basically manipulated” social media in a way that “hurt us badly,” although he added that he personally does not support censorship.

Meanwhile, the broader conflict with Iran continues to reshape global economics and energy markets. Since the joint U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran began earlier this year, oil prices have surged.

Inflation concerns in the United States have also intensified because gasoline prices climbed sharply in the aftermath of the conflict.

One of the major pressure points remains the Strait of Hormuz, where roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply normally moves through daily shipping lanes. Iran has repeatedly threatened to disrupt traffic in the region, and Netanyahu admitted that Israeli planners initially underestimated how serious the threat could become.

“Only after the war began did Israeli planners recognize Iran's ability to close the strait,” Netanyahu said. “It took a while for them to understand how big that risk is, which they understand now.”

Even so, supporters of the current strategy argue that confronting Iran now may prevent an even larger catastrophe later.

President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have both maintained a hard line approach toward Tehran, emphasizing deterrence, military readiness, and support for American allies in the region.

Conservatives largely view the strategy as a necessary correction after years of weak foreign policy decisions that emboldened hostile regimes.

During the interview, Netanyahu refused to reveal operational details regarding Israel’s military plans inside Iran. However, he openly discussed what could happen if the Iranian regime collapses under mounting internal and external pressure.

“If this regime is indeed weakened or possibly toppled, I think it's the end of Hezbollah, it's the end of Hamas, it's probably the end of the Houthis, because the whole scaffolding of the terrorist proxy network that Iran built collapses,” Netanyahu said.

When asked directly whether toppling the Iranian regime was realistic, Netanyahu answered carefully but confidently.

“Is it possible? Yes. Is it guaranteed? No.”

Those comments will likely fuel even more debate in Washington and across the world. Critics fear a wider regional war, while supporters believe the current pressure campaign offers the best chance in decades to dismantle Iran’s terror infrastructure once and for all.

What is becoming increasingly clear is that Israel is preparing for a future in which it relies less on American funding and more on its own military strength, regional alliances, and technological superiority.

Therefore, Netanyahu’s comments may mark the beginning of a major strategic realignment in the Middle East.

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