The US House of Representatives has approved millions of dollars in military aid for Israel, saying the move is a “strong message” to both US enemies and allies.
The House voted in favor of the USD 205 million bill the administration of President Barack Obama had earmarked for Israel's advanced Iron Dome "anti-missile" system, Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz reported on Thursday.
"This was a priority of Congress and President Obama, and it is the first funding of its kind for this important short-range rocket and artillery shell defense system," said Representative Steve Rothman (D-NJ), a member of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee.
"This funding sends a strong message, to both our enemies and allies, by providing more total dollars than ever before toward these rocket and missile defense programs," he said.
Washington has furthermore set USD 200 million aside for the joint US-Israel “anti-missile” systems of Arrow and David's Sling.
In July, the US unveiled plans to provide Tel Aviv with its most extensive military aid package in history.
US Assistant Secretary of State Andrew J. Shapiro said at the time that Obama's team had asked Congress for nearly USD 2.775 billion in "security" assistance funding "specifically for Israel" in 2010.
The House's vote came amid a self-proclaimed US campaign aimed at bringing Tel Aviv and the Palestinian Authority back to direct negotiations, which broke off in late September due to Tel Aviv's resumption of illegal settlement activities on the occupied Palestinian lands.
Shapiro said the assistance was explained by what he called some of the toughest challenges Tel Aviv was faced with.
There is "hope that the administration's expanded commitment to Israel's security will advance the process by helping the Israeli people seize this opportunity and take the tough decisions necessary for a comprehensive peace," he said.
Rothman also confirmed that "when it comes to defense, military, and intelligence cooperation, the relationship between the US and Israel has never been stronger."
Under the same pretext of "maintaining security," Tel Aviv has been keeping the Gaza Strip under an all-out blockade since mid-June 2007, depriving 1.5-million Palestinians of food, fuel and other necessities.readmore
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