Israel Needs $10 Billion More for US Weapons Already Ordered

Israel requires an additional $10 billion to settle costs for American military equipment it has already purchased, according to a State Department document revealed by The Wall Street Journal on Thursday. The figure extends past the current aid agreement, which expires in 2028, and creates a financial hurdle for President Donald Trump's goal of ending military aid to Israel.

The document, submitted to Congress in April, lists outstanding purchases as of April 1. Washington has pledged nearly $7 billion in aid over the next two years, but that sum does not cover the full cost of existing orders. A department letter sent to Democratic Representative Joaquin Castro of Texas noted that the remaining balance could be paid through further US assistance, Israel's own budget, or a combination of both. The State Department did not reply to requests for comment.

Trump announced his intent to end aid on Tuesday. Israeli officials, including members of the defense establishment, expressed surprise at the timing, despite months of talks about gradually reducing support. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously suggested ending direct US aid over a ten-year period. The existing framework, signed during the Obama administration, provides roughly $3.3 billion annually for US equipment purchases. Congress separately approved about $26 billion in aid in 2024 following the start of the Gaza war.

Lawmakers in the US are pushing legislation to shift focus from grants to defense investment and joint technology production. This proposal is expected to be included in the annual defense policy bill due by year's end. Supporters argue it would strengthen Pentagon cooperation on projects like Iron Dome. Critics warn that deeper integration into US supply chains could make it harder for Congress to cut ties in the future.

Israel still relies on American weapons, including thousands of bombs used in recent conflicts and a planned purchase of 25 F-35 fighter jets. Defense spending already accounts for about 7% of the country's gross domestic product, a higher share than any other NATO member. The debate comes amid shifting political winds in the US, with Vice President JD Vance citing the Iran war and Israel relations as key factors in Republican losses in Tuesday's midterms.

Trump believes ending direct aid could remove a focal point for Democratic critics, specifically mentioning Abdul El-Sayed, the first Muslim US senator elected from Michigan. However, former State Department official Josh Paul, who resigned during the Biden administration, told The Wall Street Journal that immediate termination is unlikely. He noted that existing congressional budget commitments prevent a rapid halt, and he sees no evidence for an imminent stop.