The World From The Hill: Appropriators Support For Israel Missile Defense

[Purveyor]

Two key pro-Israel appropriators say that record funding for missile defense systems in the Middle East remains a top priority despite political pressure to make deep spending cuts.

Before the last Congress recessed, proponents pushed for $205 million for the Iron Dome — an Israeli defense system that intercepts short-range rockets that can be fired from Gaza or Lebanon — to be included in the yearlong continuing resolution (CR) to fund FY 2011. Because of issues unrelated to Israel funding, Democrats and Republicans weren't able to come to an agreement on a long-term resolution and the funding was dropped from the short-term CR. President Obama sought the funds in May on top of $200 million in the CR for the long-range Arrow missile-defense program and other joint U.S.-Israeli anti-missile measures.

In August, House appropriators pushed funding for Israeli missile defense to $422.7 million, its highest level ever.

Funding for Israel missile defense over the past two years adds up to nearly $1 billion. Aid to support the short-range David's Sling anti-missile system, for example, more than doubled from $37 million in FY 2008 to $80 million in FY 2010.

With the mounting Iranian threat and Israel's role as America's strongest ally in the Middle East, lawmakers say, Congress will need to continue to strongly fund these programs.

MORE...

http://thehill.com/news-by-subject/foreign-policy/136899-the-world-from-the-hill-appropriators-sound-support-for-israel-missile-defense