Wiesenthal Center Hails President Obama, Congress for emergency Iron Dome aid to Israel

“The Simon Wiesenthal Center commends President Obama for signing the emergency legislation providing Israel the ability to re-stock thelife-saving Iron Dome countermeasures. Thank you also to both the Democratic and Republican Senators and Congressmen who voted overwhelmingly for this life-saving and perhaps peace-saving billwhich reaffirms the special bond between America and Israel."

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2014

Statement by the Press Secretary on H.J. Res. 76

On Monday, August 4, 2014, the President signed into law H.J. Res. 76, which provides $225 million in emergency supplemental funding for theSecretary of Defense to provide to the Government of Israel for the procurement of the Iron Dome defense system to counter short-range rocket threats in Fiscal Year (FY) 2014. This fundingwill ensure that Israel will be able to sustain production of Iron Dome components in order to maintain adequate stockpiles of Iron Dome interceptors and equipment, consistent with the July 22,2014, letter from the Secretary of Defense supporting Israel’s recent request for $225 million in additional funding for Iron Dome. These funds are in addition to the $176 million requestedin the President's FY 2015 budget for Iron Dome and the FY 2015 Congressional increase of $175 million proposed in Congress to offset the costs of initiating Iron Dome production in the UnitedStates.

The United States is proud that the Iron Dome system developed in coordination with Israel and funded by the United States has saved countlessIsraeli lives. Continued bipartisan support for Iron Dome funding ensures Israel will retain vital defense against rockets and artillery in light of the enduring threats.

The United States has been clear since the start of this conflict that no country can abide rocket attacks against its civilians. TheUnited States supports Israel’s right to defend itself against such attacks. We also continue to call on Israeli authorities to take all feasible precautions to prevent civilian casualtiesin Gaza and protect the civilian Palestinian population from the effects of attacks, and we continue to stress that all parties to the conflict must comply with international humanitarianlaw.