Obama seeks funding to help Israel build defense system‏

[What a vile use of the American taxpayer's money!  Hamas and Hezbollah then have to fight to defend themselves against these American weapons ("defense systems," forsooth)!  In reality Mr Obama  is behaving exactly like the previous presidents: they are all the same. It appears to be only "role distribution", and his Cairo speech seems to have been no more than another part of the game. In fact, America is being run by hidden groups, and its presidents only mouth words, while the machine works its sinuous way. Pundits then speculate as to why young Muslims might be attracted to Islamist groups, as if it were not sufficiently clear--JAW]

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/05/14/Obama.Israel/index.html

Obama seeks funding to help Israel build defense system

By the CNN Wire Staff

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

New system "addresses Israelis' worries about errant rockets fired into their homes" Obama recognizes threat of Hamas and Hezbollah missiles and rockets, says spokesman U.S. and Israel share many of the same security challenges, spokesman adds

RELATED TOPICS

• Israel
• Barack Obama
• Middle East Politics

Washington (CNN) -- The White House is asking Congress to approve $205 million to help Israel build a new short-range rocket defense system, Obama administration officials confirmed Friday.

Called the Iron Dome, the security system "addresses Israelis' worries about errant rockets being fired into their homes" and is designed to intercept incoming rockets fired from Lebanon and Gaza, a senior administration official said: White House spokesman Tommy Vietor explained the administration's rationale, saying, "The president recognizes the threat missiles and rockets fired by Hamas and Hezbollah pose to Israelis, and has therefore decided to seek funding from Congress to support the production of Israel's short-range rocket defense system called Iron Dome."

Two senior administration officials said the $205 million would be in addition to the $3 billion the United States spends each year to promote Israel's defense.

"As the president has repeatedly said," Vietor added, "our commitment to Israel's security is unshakable, and our defense relationship is stronger than ever. The United States and our ally Israel share many of the same security challenges, from combating terrorism to confronting the threat posed by Iran's nuclear-weapons program."

One senior administration official said Michele Flournoy, U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, called Israel Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Wednesday to alert Israeli officials about the administration's new rocket funding.

That official said a U.S. team went to Israel last fall to see work on the Iron Dome system, and came away with the assessment that it was "a system that made sense."

The other senior administration official said the funding is part of an ongoing partnership between the United States and Israel to promote steps "we can jointly take to improve Israel's security." Israel's short-range rocket defense system is "one of the security measures we've been talking [about] with them over time," the senior administration official said.

The Obama administration is helping Israel enhance its security systems, in part, to address Israelis' fears that establishing a Palestinian state will create a safe launching pad for rocket attacks. The administration is continuing to nudge Israel to resume talks with the Palestinians.