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Congress deepens US-Israel missile alliance

Congress’ annual defense bill tops Trump budget request by $500 million amid rising Iranian threat.
An Israeli soldier keeps watch by an Iron Dome rocket interceptor battery deployed near central Gaza Strip, southern Israel October 31, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen - RC17FD29D770
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Congress released Nov. 9 an annual defense bill that calls for $705 million for Israel’s missile defense program, a tacit acknowledgment of the threat posed by Iran and Hezbollah.

The requested figure is included in compromise legislation between the House and Senate Armed Services committees, both of which had called for that level of funding in their respective defense bills. It represents a $558 million increase over the Donald Trump administration’s request for fiscal year 2018, including $268.5 million for research and development and $290 million for procurement of the jointly developed, three-layered missile system that protects Israel from small projectiles, artillery and ballistic missiles.

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