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Senate Appropriations Committee Approves $600 Million in Israeli Defense Funding
by Natalie Johnson
May 26, 2016

The Senate Appropriations Committee easily approved $600 million in funding for Israeli missile defense programs Thursday, moving the legislation to the floor for a full chamber vote. The grant was attached to the annual defense spending bill, which cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee in a 30-0 bipartisan vote. The aid will fully fund U.S-Israeli cooperative efforts including the anti-missile systems Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow. Congress in fiscal 2016 allocated $487 million in funding for the program and in 2015 gave $620 million. Sen. Mark Kirk (R, Ill.) called the grant “critical” to protecting Israel. He and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D, N.Y.) have led Senate efforts to secure funding for Israel’s missile defense programs. READ MORE