The US Congress rushed through a US$225 million bill to support Israel’s missile defense system, with the US House of Representatives’ approval coming just before lawmakers began a five-week summer break.
The money is to go to restocking Israel’s Iron Dome, which has been credited with shooting down dozens of incoming rockets fired by Palestinian militants over three-and-a-half weeks of war. The vote came two days after the Pentagon announced ammunition deliveries to the Jewish state and as a planned 72-hour ceasefire between Israel and Hamas unraveled almost as quickly as it began.
The House’s 395-8 vote in favor late on Friday followed the senate’s adoption of the legislation by voice vote earlier in the day.
The bill now goes to US President Barack Obama for his signature.
At a White House news conference on Friday, Obama reiterated his support for Israel’s right to self-defense, while urging greater protection for Palestinian civilians. He cited Iron Dome as a concrete way that the US is helping “make sure that Israel is able to protect its citizens.”
The Iron Dome system has emerged as a game-changer in the current round of violence, with Israeli officials citing a success rate as high as 90 percent.
The system uses radar, advanced tracking technology and anti-missile batteries to follow the trajectory of an incoming rocket or mortar and determine if it is headed for a major population center. If an urban area is threatened, interceptors are fired to detonate in the air in close proximity to the missile. Projectiles not posing a threat are allowed to fall in empty fields. The system targets short-range rockets with a range between 3.2km and 72km. Interceptors cost as much as US$100,000 apiece.
Shortly after the Gaza conflict erupted, Obama praised the missile defense systems as proof of the US’ commitment to Israeli security. His administration sent the Israeli request to Congress for more Iron Dome money even as the president and US Secretary of State John Kerry have been seeking a humanitarian ceasefire.
Created by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Iron Dome has enjoyed strong US technological and financial support.
Throughout its history, the US has provided more than US$700 million to help Israel cover costs for batteries, interceptors, production costs and maintenance, the US Congressional Research Service said. The total already appeared set to climb above US$1 billion after Senate appropriators doubled the Obama administration’s request for Iron Dome funding for the next fiscal year. Now it seems likely to rise even further, with Obama expected to sign any bill swiftly into law.
However, it is unclear how quickly the new supplies might reach the battlefield. And Israel and Hamas might be in for a prolonged fight. A ceasefire arranged by the US and the UN collapsed shortly after its start on Friday morning.
More than 1,400 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and more than 60 Israelis, mostly soldiers, have been killed in the past 25 days.
Some of Congress’ Iron Dome money could go to US defense contractor Raytheon, which can manufacture components of the system after a March agreement between Israel and the US. Raytheon and Rafael also are collaborating on a system targeting mid-range rockets that can travel between 75km and 320km to protect Israel against Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government and Sunni extremists in Syria.
With an eye on Iran, Israel also is developing a deterrent against longer-range threats. The next generation of the Arrow system is scheduled to deploy in 2016.
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