TEL AVIV, November 3. /TASS/. Israel’s authorities were taken by surprise by US President Donald Trump’s statement that the United States will stop financing Israel by year-end, the Kan broadcaster said.

Its sources amongst officials of the Israeli Defense Ministry and Israeli army officers said they were surprised to hear Trump say this. "We did not expect this statement, especially today. We are in constant dialogue with the Americans. We can say that we were taken by surprise," a high-ranking Defense Ministry official said, adding that the consequences of this step are not clear as of yet. According to the official, Israeli organizations concerned have not yet received Washington’s explanations.

The Defense Ministry is particularly surprised that Trump made this statement at this precise moment. According to the broadcaster, two weeks ago a delegation from the Israeli Defense Ministry was on a visit to the United States, during which its members discussed with the US military future arms purchases, among other things.

Earlier in the day, Trump told Fox News that the United States would stop its annual $4 billion contribution to Israel by the end of this year. According to Trump, this decision had been agreed upon with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu several months ago. He did not specify what area the aid in question relates to but noted that it had been the Israeli prime minister who had raised the topic.