Jerry Moran: “The security of our ally Israel is threatened by the proliferation of rockets its enemies possess along its borders. In…”

“The security of our ally Israel is threatened by the proliferation of rockets its enemies possess along its borders. In both the south and the north, millions of Israelis live within range of Hamas and Hizballah rockets. In the last decade, more than 16,000 rockets and mortars have been launched over Gaza and Lebanese borders into Israel. These attacks have targeted and killed innocent civilians. With the backing and support of Iran and Syria, Hizballah now has an arsenal of more than 42,000 short- and long-range rockets, which are aimed at Israel. This number of rockets is more than three times larger than what Hizballah had prior to the 2006 war with Israel. U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has warned that Hizballah's 'arsenal of rockets and missiles now dwarfs the inventory of many nation-states.' The ability of Hamas and Hizballah to launch attacks on Israeli civilians is a threat to Israel's security that must be countered. To protect its people, Israel developed Iron Dome, a short-range rocket defense system that will protect civilians living near Israel's border. H.R. 5327, the United States-Israel Missile Defense Cooperation and Support Act, authorizes U.S. assistance to help Israel speed up production and deployment of this rocket defense system so that more Israelis are protected from the indiscriminate attacks of its enemies. But this legislation does more than improve Israeli security; it also enhances the security of the U.S.…”