'End American aid': Netanyahu says Israel no longer needs US assistance

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that he wants to end American financial aid to Israel, arguing that the country’s economy is now strong enough to sustain itself without US assistance.

“I want to stop American aid. It’s like welfare; I don’t want it," Netanyahu said.

“Our economy is no longer a small economy… we can finance ourselves this fraction of a per cent of our GDP that we receive from the United States. I want this process to start this year," he added.

Netanyahu made the remarks while also outlining his government’s position on security, the Palestinian issue, Gaza, Iran and Lebanon.

Reiterating his stance on Palestinian statehood, Netanyahu said, “Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people. No Palestinian state will be established here."

He also said Israel would continue to pursue an active security policy. “We will pursue an active security policy—we won’t sit back and wait behind fences," he said.