Netanyahu: Israel seeks to break dependence on US weaponry

Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel aims to wean itself off American arms supplies. Hillel Bitton-Rosen, a military commentator, called the statement "the most important decision since the war began" and argued Israel must act as a great power in a post-Trump era. The remarks were carried by Channel 14.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israel wants to reduce its reliance on the United States for arms, a statement that deepens a theme he has sounded in recent weeks. Hillel Bitton-Rosen, a retired senior military figure and Channel 14 commentator, described the declaration as the most consequential since the October 7, 2023 war erupted. The remark was carried by Channel 14.

This is the latest in a sequence of similar statements by Netanyahu. Our thread shows he first made the call for arms independence on Tuesday, June 23 at 11:57 Jerusalem, speaking to reserve officer cadets at Gush Etzion, adding that 'we have struck Iran, it's not over yet.' Within the same hour, a separate version noted he told the cadets Israel 'must achieve full independence in weapons production.' The comment today — reported as a general statement—widens the audience beyond the cadet session. The source quality remains the same: a single Channel 14 report; no official transcript has been released.

As The Zioneer reported on June 15, Netanyahu said Israel was 'forging new alliances and ensuring our arms independence.' On June 19, analysts from the Jerusalem Center for Foreign and Security Affairs warned that the changing US posture demands greater Israeli self-reliance. Separately, on June 16, Bitton-Rosen called for lifting fire restrictions on Israeli troops in Lebanon, arguing current limits are untenable.

The full context of Tuesday's statement and any specific policy implications remain unclear. No further details about whether this signals a concrete shift in procurement or production strategy have been published.

5 developments

1. 2 hours ago · 18:44 · 23 JunLatest

   Military commentator Hillel Bitton-Rosen calls the statement Israel's most important wartime decision.

2. 16:04 · 23 Jun

   Netanyahu emphasized the need to break free from dependence on foreign arms.

3. 12:24 · 23 Jun

   Netanyahu delivered the remarks during a meeting with reserve combat officer cadets.

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