House Boosts Missile Defense Aid to Israel

Israeli missile defense efforts received a significant funding increase from the House Appropriations Committee this week with more money potentially on the way, the Jerusalem Post reported (see GSN, March 27).

The panel added $70 million to the Bush administration’s budget request, bringing the proposed appropriation to $150 million for fiscal 2008. 

Only the Senate in recent years has added funds for the Israeli Arrow missile interceptor program, indicating that even more U.S. money might be tacked on this year, the Post reported.

The Israeli missile defense system “provides essential protection against ballistic missiles for Israel’s civilian population, as well as U.S. troops in the Middle East,” said Representative Steve Rothman (D-N.J.). 

“In light of Iran’s open hostility toward the U.S. and Israel, I consider increasing the effectiveness of the Arrow system to be essential to our defense,” he added.

The additional funds include $19 million for development of the “David’s Sling” program for defending against missiles flying no more than 25 miles.  Funding had previously been set at $7 million.

The new appropriation also includes $26 million to develop upgrades to the Arrow system and $25 million to manufacture Arrow components in the United States, the Post reported (Hilary Krieger, Jerusalem Post, July 27).

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