President Barack Obama on Monday signed into law a measure providing $225 million in emergency aid to Israel for its Iron Dome system, a key line of defense against rocket attacks Hamas has launched from Gaza.
The House and Senatecleared the bill on Friday. Israel had requested the money to speed up production of Iron Dome components and to maintain stockpiles.
"The United States is proud that the Iron Dome system developed in coordination with Israel and funded by the United States has saved countless Israeli lives," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. "Continued bipartisan support for Iron Dome funding ensures Israel will retain vital defense against rockets and artillery in light of the enduring threats."
The Iron Dome system has brought down most, but not all, of the thousands of rockets fired by Hamas over the past month. Militants fired 119 rockets from Gaza toward Israel on Sunday alone, the Israeli military said.
The two sides agreed to a 72-hour cease-fire in Gaza starting Tuesday after weeks of fighting, including an Israeli ground assault launched last month.
The U.S. has defended Israel's right to defend itself but in recent days stepped up criticism of military actions that have taken civilian lives, particularly after an Israeli missile ripped through a United Nations school filled with displaced Palestinians.
"The suspicion that militants are operating nearby does not justify strikes that put at risk the lives of so many innocent civilians," Mr. Earnest said earlier on Monday. He called on both sides to end the violent conflict.
Where are the defenses for Palestinians against Israeli rockets? This is racial warfare the U.S. is funding for European Jewish immigrant colonists against the indigenous Arab population. It is Anti-Semitic warfare at that: Real Anti-Semitism in action as opposed to the phony claims of Khazarian Jewish convert descendants who are orchestrating the racial war against Arabs in Palestine. Obama is turning out to be a real loser in our highest office, a windsock for Zionists and Big Money as he gives away the store to the worst war-mongers in America: Zionist 5th Columnists working for Israel and holding highest U.S. government offices to do so.