PM Netanyahu: When I first become Prime Minister in 1996, I went to the US Congress, and we [Israel] were receiving financial aid and military aid. And I said, first thing is, "We're gonna build a high tech free market capitalist economy. We don't need the financial aid. Phase it out." And everybody gasped, "How dare he, this young Prime Minister eager for a PR title? He's giving up billions of dollars."
And I was happy to do it, and I was right to do it. So we got rid of that. Now I want to make our arms industry independent, totally as independent as possible. So my direction is the exact opposite. I don't know who's talking for Israel-I do, so follow what I say, not what is put forward in some leaks that are not true.
Erin Molan: So, Prime Minister, you think it's time to cut military aid entirely from the US?
PM Netanyahu: I think it's time to assure that Israel is independent. Understand that our military aid is a tiny, tiny, tiny fraction of what the US spents in Afghanistan, or spent in the Middle East. It's tiny, but, you know, I think that we have a very strong economy, a very strong arms industry, and it's true that, even though we get what we get, which we appreciate, 80% of that is spent in the United States, produces jobs in the United States, but nevertheless, I'd like to see a much more independent Israeli-an even more independent-Israeli defense industry.
And remember that Israel doesn't ask others to fight for us. Israel is the one American ally in the world that says, "We don't need boots on the ground. We don't need American servicemen fighting on the ground for Israel, or around Israel." We're fine. We fight our own battles, but in doing so, we serve important American interests, like preventing countries that chant "Death to America" from having nuclear bombs to throw at America, and so on. So, my direction is independence, my direction is not greater dependence. My direction is greater independence, and I'll have something to say about that very soon.
