Washington: The US will provide Israel an additional $70 million in this fiscal year for the purchase of ‘Iron Dome’ defence batteries, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta announced on Thursday. ‘Iron Dome’ is Israel’s short-range rocket shield.
Panetta made the announcement following a meeting with Israel’s counterpart Ehud Barak at the Pentagon. Barak was in Washington for talks aimed at coordinating strategy with the US ahead of the second round of talks between western powers and Iran scheduled to open next week in Baghdad, Jerusalem Post reported.
Iron Dome was manufactured by Israel’s state-owned Raphael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. The system uses small radar-guided missiles to blow up in midair Katyusha-style rockets with ranges of 5 km to 70 km, as well as mortar bombs, Reuters said. The US has so far provided $205 million in this regard.
“The US decision to support further enhancing Israel’s security is an important demonstration of the unbreakable bonds between the United States and Israel,” Barak said.
However, top Republicans in US are of the view that funding of U.S.-Israeli missile defence cooperation is unreasonable in US President Barack Obama’s 2013 budget request released in February.
Panetta said the Pentagon would seek additional funding for the Iron Dome program over the next three years “based on an annual assessment of Israeli security requirements.”
“My goal is to ensure Israel has the funding it needs each year to produce these batteries that can protect its citizens,” Panetta said.
He said the $70 million would be provided this fiscal year, which ends in September.
“This is assistance that, provided Congress concurs, we can move quickly, to ensure no shortage in this important system,” Panetta said in a statement after meeting Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak at the Pentagon.
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