A convoy of Israeli tanks deployed at the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip, on Sept. 16, 2025. (Credit: Menahem Kahana/AFP)
On Sunday, Feb. 15, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a delegation from the Conference of Presidents, the umbrella organization of the American Jewish community visiting Jerusalem about a project to which he is devoting increasing attention: Ensuring that within a decade Israel has an “independent defense industry,” enabling it to forgo the $3.8 billion in annual U.S. assistance it receives, earmarked exclusively to strengthen its military.It was not the first time the Israeli leader had raised this goal. Exactly five months earlier, he had framed it as a historic ambition. On Sept. 15, 2025, before an audience of investors and economic officials, he announced that Israel was entering a process that would turn it into a “Super Sparta.”By way of introduction, he said Israel was heir to both Athens and Sparta. But that was...
On Sunday, Feb. 15, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a delegation from the Conference of Presidents, the umbrella organization of the American Jewish community visiting Jerusalem about a project to which he is devoting increasing attention: Ensuring that within a decade Israel has an “independent defense industry,” enabling it to forgo the $3.8 billion in annual U.S. assistance it receives, earmarked exclusively to strengthen its military.It was not the first time the Israeli leader had raised this goal. Exactly five months earlier, he had framed it as a historic ambition. On Sept. 15, 2025, before an audience of investors and economic officials, he announced that Israel was entering a process that would turn it into a “Super Sparta.”By way of introduction, he said Israel was heir to both Athens and Sparta. But that...
'American sponsorship is a guarantee,' says Lebanese-American coordination committee