WASHINGTON (JTA) — A U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee allocated a record amount for U.S.-Israel missile defense systems.
The Appropriations Defense Subcommittee allocated $217.7 million for the joint U.S.-Israel systems in the 2011 fiscal year — $95.7 million more than the Obama administration’s original request. It comes in addition to the $3 billion in defense assistance that Israel receives each year from the United States.
“This is only the latest example that when it comes to defense, military, and intelligence cooperation, the relationship between the U.S. and Israel has never been stronger,” said Rep. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.), a member of the subcommittee, in a statement.
Last year, Congress funded the program with $202.4 million, which was $82.8 million above the Obama administration’s request. Nearly $1 billion has been allocated for U.S.-Israel defense cooperation since 2007.
The money funds the Arrow and David’s Sling missile systems.
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