Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has a message for his country: It's time to stop relying on Uncle Sam for weapons and start making our own. Speaking to reserve combat officers in the West Bank's Gush Etzion on Tuesday, Netanyahu made clear that while America's support has been invaluable, Israel needs to stand on its own two feet when it comes to armaments.
“But today I say: We need our own independent weapons-production system. We must manufacture our own armaments,” Netanyahu said, according to the Times of Israel.
The prime minister framed this push for self-reliance in the context of the ongoing struggle with Iran. “We are now confronting Iran and its proxies. We have struck them hard. It is not over yet, but it depends on our strength,” he said. “Our position in the next 30 years will be determined by our strength and independence in armament capability.”
Netanyahu's comments come at a delicate moment. Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are simmering, and Israel worries that Washington's diplomatic efforts could box in its military options. Earlier this month, U.S. intelligence reportedly warned that Israel might try to undermine a potential U.S.-Iran agreement to keep pressure on Tehran and boost Netanyahu's political standing.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Tuesday it struck an armed group it identified as terrorists near the Ali al-Tahir ridge in southern Lebanon, aiming to remove immediate threats and prevent Hezbollah from targeting Israeli civilians and forces.
In a separate development, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett revealed that Israel smuggled thousands of Starlink receivers from Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX (SPCX)) into Iran to help anti-government protesters maintain internet access and communications despite government restrictions, according to Reuters.
The push for Israeli weapons independence comes as the U.S. continues to play a major role in Israel's defense. Last week, Vice President JD Vance noted that roughly two-thirds of the defensive weapons protecting Israel in recent months were supplied and funded by the U.S.
But the relationship is evolving. Earlier this month, Section 224 of the proposed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) emerged as a flashpoint in Congress. The provision would deepen U.S.-Israel military and defense-industry ties through joint research, weapons co-production, licensing agreements, and broader industrial integration. Despite bipartisan concerns, a congressional panel voted against removing the measure, allowing it to remain in the defense bill.
Netanyahu's call for self-sufficiency doesn't mean cutting ties with America—it's about ensuring Israel can act decisively without being hamstrung by reliance on foreign supply chains. As he put it, Israel's strength in the coming decades will hinge on its ability to produce its own arms. With the Iran conflict far from resolved, that message is likely to resonate.
