US allocates additional $1 billion to Israeli anti-missile system
Reports in the Israeli media claim that the US Congress has agreed to allocate an extra $1 billion for the development of Israel's "Iron Dome" missile defence system. Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth pointed out that the total American defence budget is around $608 billion. - The newspaper added that Congressman Steve Rotman announced the allocation while claiming that the Iron Dome system will enable Israel "to defend its citizens" against a missile threat. At the same time, he said, Israeli leaders will have the necessary strategic space to carry out appropriate operations "to fight and eliminate terrorism". Rotman drew attention to the fact that this is the largest amount of US aid to be approved this year under the heading "bailouts". Last month Congress approved a bill to double US aid for the Iron Dome system to $680 million. This was approved by the Armed Services Committee in the Senate, and was added to the $250 million approved by President Obama.