Obama Admin.-Funded Iron Dome “Crucial” to Israel’s Defense

Jason Attermann — August 30, 2011 – 2:02 pm | Comments (0) Add a comment

The Washington Times reported on the extraordinary accuracy of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system at stopping rockets fired from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. The system has been operational since April and has performed successfully at an 85% efficiency level against short-range rockets fired toward civilian areas. Funding for the system was spearheaded by President Barack Obama, who has committed himself and his administration to increasing Israel’s qualitative military edge and ensuring Israel’s security. The Washington Times reported:

The Obama administration has supported Iron Dome. In the current defense budget, the Pentagon provides $205 million for Iron Dome deployments, in addition to the nearly $3 billion Israel received in U.S. military financing for 2011.

Rep. Steven R. Rothman, a New Jersey Democrat who is the lead lawmaker on the House Appropriations Committee that secured the additional money for Iron Dome, said the missile defense system ‘serves as an essential part of Israel’s multilayered umbrella of anti-rocket and anti-missile defenses, and over the past week this system has shown just how capable it is.’

A former senior Israeli defense official with detailed knowledge of the Iron Dome system said it is a crucial element of Israeli defenses.

Click here or below to view a video of the system in action.

On Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak announced the deployment of a third Iron Dome battery in order to better protect the city of Ashdod. The other batteries currently protect the areas around Beersheva and Ashkelon. According to Barak, Israel is on high alert following the recent attacks on Israeli civilians and because of the Palestinian Authority’s plan to declare statehood unilaterally through the United Nations in September. Globes quoted:

‘We’re nearly at the beginning of September, and the Israel Security Agency, the Israel Police, and the IDF will be ready not to allow terrorists to disrupt people’s routines in Tel Aviv and other cities,’ Barak said.

‘We’re on high alert in the south against a possible attack similar to the attack ten days ago,’ he added, commenting on today’s rocket fire, which wounded eight people, and the stabbing outside a club in Tel Aviv.

Click here to read more on the Obama Administration’s strong support of Israel’s defense capabilities.

Click here to read more about the Iron Dome’s “exceptional” success.

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