I 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4133 

To express the sense of Congress regarding the United States-Israel strategic 

relationship, to direct the President to submit to Congress reports on 

United States actions to enhance this relationship and to assist in the 

defense of Israel, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 5, 2012 

Mr. CANTOR (for himself, Mr. HOYER, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, and Mr. BERMAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Foreign Affairs 

A BILL 

To express the sense of Congress regarding the United 

States-Israel strategic relationship, to direct the President to submit to Congress reports on United States 

actions to enhance this relationship and to assist in 

the defense of Israel, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States-Israel 

5 Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 


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1 (1) Since 1948, United States Presidents and 

2 both houses of Congress, on a bipartisan basis and 

3 supported by the American people, have repeatedly 

4 reaffirmed the special bond between the United 

5 States and Israel, based on shared values and 

6 shared interests. 

7 (2) The Middle East is undergoing rapid 

8 change, bringing with it hope for an expansion of de9 mocracy but also great challenges to the national se10 curity of the United States and our allies in the re11 gion, particularly our most important ally in the re12 gion, Israel. The past year has witnessed the fall of 

13 some regimes long considered to be pillars of sta14 bility in the Middle East and a rise in the influence 

15 of radical Islamists throughout the region. 

16 (3) Iran, which has long sought to foment in17 stability and promote extremism in the Middle East, 

18 is now seeking to exploit the dramatic political tran19 sition underway in the region to undermine govern20 ments traditionally aligned with the United States 

21 and support extremist political movements in these 

22 countries. 

23 (4) At the same time, Iran may soon attain a 

24 nuclear weapons capability, a development that 

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1 ests, destabilize the region, encourage regional nu2 clear proliferation, further empower and embolden 

3 Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, 

4 and provide it the tools to threaten its neighbors, in5 cluding Israel. 

6 (5) Over the past several years, with the assist7 ance of Iran and Syria, Hizballah and Hamas have 

8 increased their stockpiles of rockets, with more than 

9 60,000 rockets now ready to be fired at Israel. Iran 

10 continues to add to its arsenal of ballistic missiles 

11 and cruise missiles, which threaten Iran’s neighbors, 

12 Israel, and United States military forces in the re13 gion. 

14 (6) As a result, the strategic environment that 

15 has kept Israel secure and safeguarded United 

16 States national interests for the past 35 years has 

17 eroded. 

18 SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 

19 It is the policy of the United States: 

20 (1) To reaffirm the enduring commitment of 

21 the United States to the security of the State of 

22 Israel as a Jewish state. As President Obama stated 

23 on December 16, 2011, ‘‘America’s commitment and 

24 my commitment to Israel and Israel’s security is 

25 unshakeable.’’. And as President Bush stated before 


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1 the Knesset on the 60th anniversary of the founding 

2 of the State of Israel on May 15, 2008, ‘‘The alli3 ance between our governments is unbreakable, yet 

4 the source of our friendship runs deeper than any 

5 treaty.’’. 

6 (2) To provide Israel the military capabilities 

7 necessary to deter and defend itself by itself against 

8 any threats. 

9 (3) To veto any one-sided anti-Israel resolutions 

10 at the United Nations Security Council. 

11 (4) To support Israel’s inherent right to self-de12 fense. 

13 (5) To pursue avenues to expand cooperation 

14 with Israel in both defense and across the spectrum 

15 of civilian sectors, including high technology, agri16 culture, medicine, health, pharmaceuticals, and en17 ergy. 

18 (6) To assist Israel with its on-going efforts to 

19 forge a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the Israeli20 Palestinian conflict that results in two states living 

21 side by side in peace and security, and to encourage 

22 Israel’s neighbors to recognize Israel’s right to exist 

23 as a Jewish state. 


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1 SEC. 4. UNITED STATES ACTIONS TO ASSIST IN THE DE2 FENSE OF ISRAEL AND PROTECT AMERICAN 

3 INTERESTS. 

4 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con5 gress that the United States should take the following ac6 tions to assist in the defense of Israel: 

7 (1) Provide Israel such support as may be nec8 essary to increase development and production of 

9 joint missile defense systems, particularly such sys10 tems that defend the urgent threat posed to Israel 

11 and United States forces in the region. 

12 (2) Provide Israel defense articles and defense 

13 services through such mechanisms as appropriate, to 

14 include air refueling tankers, missile defense capa15 bilities, and specialized munitions. 

16 (3) Allocate additional weaponry and munitions 

17 for the forward-deployed United States stockpile in 

18 Israel. 

19 (4) Provide Israel additional surplus defense ar20 ticles and defense services, as appropriate, in the 

21 wake of the withdrawal of United States forces from 

22 Iraq. 

23 (5) Strengthen efforts to prevent weapons 

24 smuggling into Gaza pursuant to the 2005 Agree25 ment on Movement and Access following the Israeli 

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1 ons smuggling and terrorist threats from the Sinai 

2 Peninsula. 

3 (6) Offer the Israeli Air Force additional train4 ing and exercise opportunities in the United States 

5 to compensate for Israel’s limited air space. 

6 (7) Expand Israel’s authority to make pur7 chases under the Foreign Military Financing pro8 gram on a commercial basis. 

9 (8) Seek to enhance the capabilities of the 

10 United States and Israel to address emerging com11 mon threats, increase security cooperation, and ex12 pand joint military exercises. 

13 (9) Encourage an expanded role for Israel with14 in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), 

15 including an enhanced presence at NATO head16 quarters and exercises. 

17 (10) Support extension of the long-standing 

18 loan guarantee program for Israel, recognizing 

19 Israel’s unbroken record of repaying its loans on 

20 time and in full. 

21 (11) Expand already-close intelligence coopera22 tion, including satellite intelligence, with Israel. 

23 (b) REPORT ON ISRAEL’S QUALITATIVE MILITARY

24 EDGE.— 


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1 (1) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It is the policy of 

2 the United States— 

3 (A) to help Israel preserve its qualitative 

4 military edge amid rapid and uncertain regional 

5 political transformation; and 

6 (B) to encourage further development of 

7 advanced technology programs between the 

8 United States and Israel current trends and in9 stability in the region. 

10 (2) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after 

11 the date of the enactment of this Act, the President 

12 shall submit to the appropriate congressional com13 mittees a report on the status of Israel’s qualitative 

14 military edge in light of current trends and insta15 bility in the region. 

16 (c) REPORTS ON OTHER MATTERS.—Not later than 

17 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

18 President shall submit to the appropriate congressional 

19 committees a report on each of the following: 

20 (1) Taking into account Israel’s urgent require21 ment for F–35 aircraft, actions to improve the proc22 ess relating to Israel’s purchase of F–35 aircraft to 

23 improve cost efficiency and timely delivery. 

24 (2) Efforts to expand cooperation between the 

25 United States and Israel in homeland security, 


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1 counter-terrorism, maritime security, energy, cyber2 security, and other appropriate areas. 

3 (3) Actions to integrate Israel into the defense 

4 of the Eastern Mediterranean. 

5 (d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

6 (1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT7 TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com8 mittees’’ means— 

9 (A) the Committee on Appropriations, the 

10 Committee on Armed Services, and the Com11 mittee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Rep12 resentatives; and 

13 (B) the Committee on Appropriations, the 

14 Committee on Armed Services, and the Com15 mittee on Foreign Relations of the Senate. 

16 (2) QUALITATIVE MILITARY EDGE.—The term 

17 ‘‘qualitative military edge’’ has the meaning given 

18 the term in section 36(h)(2) of the Arms Export 

19 Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(h)(2)). 

Æ 


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