Trump says funding for Israel to be cut off ‘by the end of this year’

US President Donald Trump has said he’s planning to cut off billions of dollars in aid to Israel by the end of the year.

“Bibi Netanyahu and I have made a deal that we give Israel $4bn a year, and we made a deal months ago, that we’re stopping,” he said during an interview with Fox News, adding that “they’re fine with it”.

“So, it’s just a wasted thing because we’ve already agreed that by the end of this year, we won’t be paying Israel,” he said.

Trump clarified that Washington will still “help Israel if they need it”, calling them “a great ally” that can purchase weapons or “whatever they want”.

The US president claimed Netanyahu had originally brought up the idea, quoting the Israeli prime minister as saying that “it would be appropriate if we do not receive aid”.

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