YNetNews:
he US House of Representatives, controlled by a pro-Israel Republican majority, adopted the National Defense Authorization Act for 2015 that includes the approval of $600 million military aid package for Israel for missile defense.
The bill authorizes $350.9 million for the Iron Dome rocket defense system, that protects from short and medium-range missiles and rockets, and $268.7 million for David’s Sling – providing protection from long-range missiles – and Arrow 3 – that could intercept ballistic missiles before they enter the atmosphere. Both David’s Sling and Arrow 3 are missile defense programs developed in cooperation with the United States.
The House also voted on an act obligating the president to report to Congress every three months on the status of various Qualitative Military Edge (QME) issues for Israel.
The adoption of the NDAA reiterates that it is “the policy of the United States to take all necessary steps to ensure that Israel possesses and maintains an independent capability to remove existential threats to its security and defend its vital national interests,” an amendment to the act said
Another amendment adopted states that “Congress declares that it is the policy of the United States to fully support Israel’s lawful exercise of self-defense, including actions to halt regional aggression.”
A more problematic part of the legislation is its clauses on Iran. It affirms “America’s opposition to Iran’s quest for a nuclear weapon and support of Israel’s ability to defend itself against the Islamist regime.”
The legislation also advocates “strengthening the US forward military presence to deter Iran from any aggressive military action and to improve America’s military capability to address such a threat.”The act also stresses that Congress must be involved in any lifting of sanctions on Iran.
