Yesterday, US President Barack Obama signed the bill to allocate $225 million in emergency funding in 2014 for the provision of interceptor missiles for Israel's Iron Dome rocket defense system, the White House has announced. The US Senate approved the bill unanimously, and the House of Representatives passed it by a majority of 395 to 9. "These funds are in addition to the $176 million requested in the President’s fiscal year 2015 budget for Iron Dome and the fiscal year 2015 Congressional increase of $175 million proposed in Congress to offset the costs of initiating Iron Dome production in the United States," the announcement said.
Assuming that Obama signs on the aid for Iron Dome for 2015 when the time comes, total US aid for the system will amount to over $1 billion.
"The United States is proud that the Iron Dome system developed in coordination with Israel and funded by the United States has saved countless Israeli lives," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. "Continued bipartisan support for Iron Dome funding ensures Israel will retain vital defense against rockets and artillery in light of the enduring threats.
"The United States has been clear since the start of this conflict that no country can abide rocket attacks against its civilians. The United States supports Israel’s right to defend itself against such attacks. We also continue to call on Israeli authorities to take all feasible precautions to prevent civilian casualties in Gaza and protect the civilian Palestinian population from the effects of attacks, and we continue to stress that all parties to the conflict must comply with international humanitarian law."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 5, 2014
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