Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu understands that Israel must expand quickly its own arms industry. He knows that European countries are under domestic pressure to embargo arms sales to Israel; such a total embargo was just demanded in a letter to The Times of London by several retired generals in the U.K. Even more worrisome than the disaffection of Europeans is the loss of political support for Israel in the U.S., especially in the Democratic Party’s “progressive wing,” that wants to diminish American arms sales to Israel. And disturbingly, even some conservative Republicans are distancing themselves from Israel. In such a climate, Israel has to build up its domestic arms industry to guarantee it has the means needed to defend itself. More on Netanyahu’s declaration of arms independence can be found here: “Netanyahu: Israel Will Invest $110 Billion on Domestic Arms Industry,” Algemeiner, December 24, 2025:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel would spend 350 billion shekels ($110 billion) on developing an independent arms industry to reduce dependency on other countries.
“We will continue to acquire essential supplies while independently arming ourselves,” Netanyahu said at a ceremony for new pilots.
“I don’t know if a country can be completely independent, but we will strive … to ensure our arms are produced as much as possible in Israel,” he said. “Our goal is to build an independent arms industry for the State of Israel and reduce the dependency on any party, including allies.”
Netanyahu’s comments came about a month after he denied reports that his country was seeking a new 20-year military aid deal with the US, insisting that Israel was working to wean itself off American assistance….
“Israel does not ask others to fight for us,” he said. “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.”
Netanyahu sees the writing on the wall: the U.S. in the future may not always provide Israel with everything it needs to defend itself, and it has to start right now, to make a massive investment in its own defense industry, before someday finding itself under assault and bereft of all the arms it needs. Think of all the weapons that Israel already produces, that have been spectacular successes: the Iron Dome and Arrow 3 anti-missile defense systems, the Iron Beam, which is an astoundingly inexpensive laser-based anti-missile defense system, the Merkava 5 tank, the improvements that Israeli aeronautical engineers have made to the F-35 fighter jets, and much more. Now with this huge investment, we can expect more spectacular achievements in new weaponry coming from Israeli weapons scientists, and these will, of course, be shared with the Jewish state’s greatest ally, the United States.
Walter Sieruk says
There is many different good valid reasonable logical reasons why the State of Israel need to spent such a vest amount of money on is domestic arms industry Just considering one of those is enough to invest in weapons for national defense . Which is that oil rich agressive belligerent combative and hostile military might filled Islamic regime of Iran in intent of destroying Islam is ,very much , a good solid sensible logic based reason invest so much money for national self- defense.
As the former US President ,James Monroe, had, rightly and wisely ,declared in a speech “The right of self-defense never ceases . it is among the most sacred and alike necessary for nations and individuals.”
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Yeah, Israel should completely go independent in terms of its arms industry, and end the “aid” that it gets from US, where it has to procure its weaponry only from the US. Once we no longer give them aid, the “groypers” won’t be able to bitch that they control us, or we control them, or whatever
In fact, once Israel becomes militarily independent, it can even sign side-treaties w/ Russia to check on Turkey’s powers. Right now, Turkey plays both sides: Israel too can and should do the same, if needed
James Lincoln says
࿗Infidel࿘ says,
“Yeah, Israel should completely go independent in terms of its arms industry…”
Yes, as independent as possible.
They should not even count on the United States 100%.
Patrick says
America is a fool to disassociate arms relationship with integral Israel. Israel is a standout partner in developing arms, weapons of war, aircraft, intelligence, espionage, technology, defense, systems operations development of assault weaponry fighting terrorists. Israel has an outstanding brain trust, never lacks for research and development, testing and evaluation, computer interfacing, AI optimizing. We need to maintain a life long partnership with Israel, to work as a TEAM,
🇺🇸🇮🇱🇺🇸🇮🇱🇺🇸🇮🇱🇺🇸🇮🇱🇺🇸🇮🇱🇺🇸🇮🇱🇺🇸🇮🇱🇺🇸🇮🇱
Taffy says
Israel make even get a return on its investment by selling part of its production to other countries. Right now, Israel Military Industries (IMI) makes quality, competitively priced, ammunition that one can buy in the US.
For ordnance, however, to be completely independent, Israel would need to develop industries that it does not currently have, such as specialty steel. Israel Aircraft Industries back in the late 1980’s, actually designed and produced 2 fighter jets, designated the Lavi, that was supposed to compete with the F-16, but pressure from the US, among other things, led them to abandon the project and buy F-16s from the US.
Walter Sieruk says
To change somewhat part of the beginning sentence of this article by Mr. Fitzgerald , it this reads “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu understands that Israel must expand quickly its own arms industry. because that Islamic regime’s President Pezeshkian declared recently: ‘We are at total war with the United States, Israel and Europe.'”
That statement statement by Iran’s President about that hostile Islamic tyranny ,which has the title of “The Islamic Republic of Iran” being.” at total war with the United States, Israel and Europe”. Should surprise no well-informed person.
For those aggressive and hostile jihad based mindset of those dictators of tyrannical Islamic regime of Iran have not really given up on their evil goal enriching uranium for nuclear weapons. It still supplies deadly weapons to those murderous jihad entities Hamas and Hezbollah.
Therefore it should be made known that if the founder of the current Islamic tyranny ,Ayatollah Khomeini would still be alive today ,he would spit on those Westerners who say that “Islam is a non-violent religion.”
If Ayatollah Khomeini had clearly announced that “Those who know nothing about Islam pretend that Islam counsels against war….There are hundreds psalms and hadith s urging of Muslims to value war and to fight. …I spit upon those foolish souls who make such a claim.” [1] So if he was alive today who would spit on those Westerners who say that “Islam is a non-violent religion.” [1]
There are also many places in the Qu ‘ran that instruct in violence and killing for the cause of Islam. As found in ,for example Surah 2:191. 4:89.. 5:33. 9:5, 111,112 ,123. 47:4.
[1] THE ISLAM IN ISLAMIC TERRORISM by Ibn Warraq page 339.
Michael says
All it would take is one more shift of power back to the National Socialist American Workers Party to ensure Israel is abandoned completely. Netanyahu can see the writing on the wall and is no fool.
Ralph says
Israel is the best and wisest ally America has.
gravenimage says
+1
Michael Paul Skok says
It is written in the Bible, “Be dependent on no one.” That’s what the USA should do. We should be dependent on no one except maybe Canada.
gravenimage says
Netanyahu: Israel Will Invest $110 Billion on Domestic Arms Industry
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Good to hear–but also sad that Israel *has to be* independent.