Iron Dome Funding

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta issued a statement this morning pledging further assistance to Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system after meeting with Israel's defense minister, Ehud Barak.

"The level of security cooperation between the United States and Israel has never been stronger," Panetta said. "One important example of this cooperation is U.S. support for Israel's Iron Dome short range rocket and mortar defense system. I was pleased to inform Minister Barak that the President supports Israel's Iron Dome system and directed me to fill the $70 million in assistance for Iron Dome that Minister Barak indicated to me Israel needs this fiscal year."

Panetta said he wants to ensure Israel has the funding it needs each year to produce these batteries that can protect its citizens. "That is why going forward over the next three years, we intend to request additional funding for Iron Dome, based on an annual assessment of Israeli security requirements against an evolving threat," he added. "This is part of our rock-solid commitment to Israel's security and comes on top of approximately $3 billion in annual security assistance for Israel."

The United States has already provided $205 million in assistance for that system, and operational batteries have already proven effective in defending against rocket attacks on Israel earlier this year, Panetta said, adding, "Iron Dome has already saved the lives of Israeli citizens, and it can help prevent escalation in the future."

Panetta said he and Barak have been discussing additional U.S. support for Iron Dome, and in recent months their respective departments have been working closely to gauge Israel's security needs and production capacity for that system.

"This is assistance that, provided Congress concurs, we can move quickly, to ensure no shortage in this important system," Panetta said. "Meanwhile, we will stay in close consultation in the years ahead to ensure we are making necessary investments in this important system. This announcement is an important step and a reflection of the extraordinarily close defense relationship between our countries."