- The US gives $1.4 billion in annual funding for Israel to upgrade its Iron Dome defence mechanism, despite political strife following the Gaza conflict
- Nearly 4000 rockets were sent from the Iron Dome during the conflict with Hamas in Gaza during May this year
- Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne says Australia does not recognise a ‘State of Palestine’
The US will continue $1 billion (A$1.4 billion) of annual funding for Israel to upgrade its Iron Dome defence mechanism, despite political strife following the Gaza conflict in May this year.
The Chair of the US House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, Rosa DeLauro, suggested a separate bill to continue supporting Israel’s defensive Iron Dome after funding cuts were suggested in US President Biden’s budget.
“The United States’ commitment to the security of our friend and ally Israel is ironclad,” Ms De Lauro said. “Replenishing interceptors used to protect Israel from attacks is our legal and moral responsibility.”
The Iron Dome is a counter defence system for any aerial threats to Israel. Land-based interceptors detect incoming threats and fire counter missiles to intercept them.
An app-based automatic notification system called Red Alert notifies Israelis of incoming threats and issues an order to take cover.
Israel relies largely on US funding to replenish missile receptors on an annual basis.
Nearly 4000 rockets were sent from the Iron Dome during the Gaza conflict in May.
Read the article by Neelam Dajee in The Market Herald.