A funeral for a Muslim Brotherhood leader in Egypt. Photo: Screenshot.

JNS.org – The U.S. on Wednesday decided to halt the transfer of $260 million in military aid to Egypt, citing democracy and human rights concerns. America will also withhold the delivery of tank parts, helicopters, anti-ship missiles, and the F-16 fighter aircraft.

“As a result of the review directed by President Obama, we have decided to maintain our relationship with the Egyptian government, while recalibrating our assistance to Egypt to best advance our interests,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.

On Thursday, Israeli Homefront Defense Minister Gilad Erdan said he hopes the aid cut won’t impact the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace deal.

“I hope this decision by the United States will not have an effect and won’t be interpreted as something that should have an effect,” Erdan said, according to Israel Hayom.

A high-ranking Israeli official told The Wall Street Journal that the aid cut “can have dismal consequences,” and called the decision “a sign to the whole Middle East that America is stepping back and is not interested anymore.”

“It’s going to affect America’s position from Morocco to Saudi Arabia,” the official said.