112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4133 

AN ACT 

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, 
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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

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

3 Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012’’. 

4 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

5 Congress finds the following: 

6 (1) Since 1948, United States Presidents and 

7 both houses of Congress, on a bipartisan basis and 

8 supported by the American people, have repeatedly 

9 reaffirmed the special bond between the United 

10 States and Israel, based on shared values and 

11 shared interests. 

12 (2) The Middle East is undergoing rapid 

13 change, bringing with it hope for an expansion of de14 mocracy but also great challenges to the national se15 curity of the United States and our allies in the re16 gion, particularly our most important ally in the re17 gion, Israel. Over the past year, the Middle East has 

18 witnessed the fall of some regimes long considered to 

19 be stabilizing forces and a rise in the influence of 

20 radical Islamists. 

21 (3) Iran, which has long sought to foment in22 stability and promote extremism in the Middle East, 

23 is now seeking to exploit the dramatic political tran24 sition underway in the region to undermine govern25 ments traditionally aligned with the United States 
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1 and support extremist political movements in these 

2 countries. 

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

4 nuclear weapons capability, a development that 

5 would fundamentally threaten vital American inter6 ests, destabilize the region, encourage regional nu7 clear proliferation, further empower and embolden 

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

9 and provide it the tools to threaten its neighbors, in10 cluding Israel. 

11 (5) Over the past several years, with the assist12 ance of Iran and Syria, Hizballah and Hamas have 

13 increased their stockpiles of rockets, with more than 

14 60,000 rockets now ready to be fired at Israel. Iran 

15 continues to add to its arsenal of ballistic missiles 

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

17 Israel, and United States military forces in the re18 gion. 

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

20 has kept Israel secure and safeguarded United 

21 States national interests for the past 35 years has 

22 eroded. 

23 SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 

24 It is the policy of the United States: 
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1 (1) To reaffirm the enduring commitment of 

2 the United States to the security of the State of 

3 Israel as a Jewish state. As President Obama stated 

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

5 my commitment to Israel and Israel’s security is 

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

7 the Knesset on the 60th anniversary of the founding 

8 of the State of Israel on May 15, 2008, ‘‘The alli9 ance between our governments is unbreakable, yet 

10 the source of our friendship runs deeper than any 

11 treaty.’’. 

12 (2) To provide Israel the military capabilities 

13 necessary to deter and defend itself by itself against 

14 any threats. 

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

16 at the United Nations Security Council. 

17 (4) To support Israel’s inherent right to self-de18 fense. 

19 (5) To pursue avenues to expand cooperation 

20 with Israel in both defense and across the spectrum 

21 of civilian sectors, including high technology, agri22 culture, medicine, health, pharmaceuticals, and en23 ergy. 

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

25 forge a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the Israeli- 
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1 Palestinian conflict that results in two states living 

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

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

4 as a Jewish state. 

5 SEC. 4. UNITED STATES ACTIONS TO ASSIST IN THE DE6 FENSE OF ISRAEL AND PROTECT AMERICAN 

7 INTERESTS. 

8 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con9 gress that the United States should take the following ac10 tions to assist in the defense of Israel: 

11 (1) Provide Israel such support as may be nec12 essary to increase development and production of 

13 joint missile defense systems, particularly such sys14 tems that defend the urgent threat posed to Israel 

15 and United States forces in the region. 

16 (2) Provide Israel assistance specifically for the 

17 production and procurement of the Iron Dome de18 fense system for purposes of intercepting short19 range missiles, rockets, and projectiles launched 

20 against Israel. 

21 (3) Provide Israel defense articles and defense 

22 services through such mechanisms as appropriate, to 

23 include air refueling tankers, missile defense capa24 bilities, and specialized munitions. 
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1 (4) Allocate additional weaponry and munitions 

2 for the forward-deployed United States stockpile in 

3 Israel. 

4 (5) Provide Israel additional surplus defense ar5 ticles and defense services, as appropriate, in the 

6 wake of the withdrawal of United States forces from 

7 Iraq. 

8 (6) Strengthen efforts to prevent weapons 

9 smuggling into Gaza pursuant to the 2005 Agree10 ment on Movement and Access following the Israeli 

11 withdrawal from Gaza and to protect against weap12 ons smuggling and terrorist threats from the Sinai 

13 Peninsula. 

14 (7) Offer the Israeli Air Force additional train15 ing and exercise opportunities in the United States 

16 to compensate for Israel’s limited air space. 

17 (8) Expand Israel’s authority to make pur18 chases under the Foreign Military Financing pro19 gram on a commercial basis. 

20 (9) Seek to enhance the capabilities of the 

21 United States and Israel to address emerging com22 mon threats, increase security cooperation, and ex23 pand joint military exercises. 

24 (10) Encourage an expanded role for Israel 

25 within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
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1 (NATO), including an enhanced presence at NATO 

2 headquarters and exercises. 

3 (11) Support extension of the long-standing 

4 loan guarantee program for Israel, recognizing 

5 Israel’s unbroken record of repaying its loans on 

6 time and in full. 

7 (12) Expand already-close intelligence coopera8 tion, including satellite intelligence, with Israel. 

9 (b) REPORT ON ISRAEL’S QUALITATIVE MILITARY

10 EDGE.— 

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

12 the United States— 

13 (A) to help Israel preserve its qualitative 

14 military edge amid rapid and uncertain regional 

15 political transformation; and 

16 (B) to encourage further development of 

17 advanced technology programs between the 

18 United States and Israel given current trends 

19 and instability in the region. 

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

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

22 shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 

23 the House of Representatives and the Committee on 

24 Foreign Relations of the Senate a report on the sta-
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1 tus of Israel’s qualitative military edge in light of 

2 current trends and instability in the region. 

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

4 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

5 President shall submit to the appropriate congressional 

6 committees a report on each of the following: 

7 (1) Taking into account Israel’s urgent require8 ment for F–35 aircraft, actions to improve the proc9 ess relating to Israel’s purchase of F–35 aircraft to 

10 improve cost efficiency and timely delivery. 

11 (2) Efforts to expand cooperation between the 

12 United States and Israel in homeland security, 

13 counter-terrorism, maritime security, energy, cyber14 security, and other appropriate areas. 

15 (3) Actions to integrate Israel into the defense 

16 of the Eastern Mediterranean. 

17 (d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

18 (1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT19 TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com20 mittees’’ means— 

21 (A) the Committee on Appropriations, the 

22 Committee on Armed Services, and the Com23 mittee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Rep24 resentatives; and 
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1 (B) the Committee on Appropriations, the 

2 Committee on Armed Services, and the Com3 mittee on Foreign Relations of the Senate. 

4 (2) QUALITATIVE MILITARY EDGE.—The term 

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

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

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

8 SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE LOAN 

9 GUARANTEES TO ISRAEL. 

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 5 of title I of the Emer11 gency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003 

12 (Public Law 108–11), as amended, is further amended in 

13 the item relating to ‘‘Loan Guarantees to Israel’’— 

14 (1) in the matter preceding the first proviso, by 

15 striking ‘‘September 30, 2011’’ and inserting ‘‘Sep16 tember 30, 2015’’; and 

17 (2) in the second proviso, by striking ‘‘Sep18 tember 30, 2011’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 

19 2015’’. 
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1 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

2 this section take effect on the date of enactment of this 

3 Act. 

Passed the House of Representatives May 9, 2012. 

Attest: 

Clerk. 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4133 

AN ACT 

To express the sense of Congress regarding the 

for other purposes. ship and to assist in the defense of Israel, and on United States actions to enhance this relationrect the President to submit to Congress reports United States-Israel strategic relationship, to di-