S. 2165 

One Hundred Twelfth Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE SECOND SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, 

the third day of January, two thousand and twelve 

An Act 

To enhance strategic cooperation between the United States and Israel, and for 

other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

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

Security Cooperation Act of 2012’’. 

SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

Congress makes the following findings: 

(1) Since 1948, United States Presidents and both houses 

of Congress, on a bipartisan basis and supported by the American people, have repeatedly reaffirmed the special bond 

between the United States and Israel, based on shared values 

and shared interests. 

(2) The Middle East is undergoing rapid change, bringing 

with it hope for an expansion of democracy but also great 

challenges to the national security of the United States and 

our allies in the region, particularly to our most important 

ally in the region, Israel. 

(3) The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran is 

continuing its decades-long pattern of seeking to foment instability and promote extremism in the Middle East, particularly 

in this time of dramatic political transition. 

(4) At the same time, the Government of the Islamic 

Republic of Iran continues to enrich uranium in defiance of 

multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions. 

(5) A nuclear-weapons capable Iran would fundamentally 

threaten vital United States interests, encourage regional 

nuclear proliferation, further empower Iran, the world’s leading 

state sponsor of terror, and pose a serious and destabilizing 

threat to Israel and the region. 

(6) Over the past several years, with the assistance of 

the Governments of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Syria, 

Hizbollah and Hamas have increased their stockpile of rockets, 

with more than 60,000 now ready to be fired at Israel. The 

Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to add 

to its arsenal of ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, which 

threaten Iran’s neighbors, Israel, and United States Armed 

Forces in the region. 

(7) As a result, Israel is facing a fundamentally altered 

strategic environment. 
S. 2165—2 

(8) Pursuant to chapter 5 of title 1 of the Emergency 

Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003 (Public Law 

108–11; 117 Stat. 576), the authority to make available loan 

guarantees to Israel is currently set to expire on September 

30, 2012. 

SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 

It is the policy of the United States: 

(1) To reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the security 

of the State of Israel as a Jewish state. As President Barack 

Obama stated on December 16, 2011, ‘‘America’s commitment 

and my commitment to Israel and Israel’s security is 

unshakeable.’’ And as President George W. Bush stated before 

the Israeli Knesset on May 15, 2008, on the 60th anniversary 

of the founding of the State of Israel, ‘‘The alliance between 

our governments is unbreakable, yet the source of our friendship runs deeper than any treaty.’’. 

(2) To help the Government of Israel preserve its qualitative 

military edge amid rapid and uncertain regional political transformation. 

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

United Nations Security Council. 

(4) To support Israel’s inherent right to self-defense. 

(5) To pursue avenues to expand cooperation with the 

Government of Israel both in defense and across the spectrum 

of civilian sectors, including high technology, agriculture, medicine, health, pharmaceuticals, and energy. 

(6) To assist the Government of Israel with its ongoing 

efforts to forge a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the IsraeliPalestinian conflict that results in two states living side-byside in peace and security, and to encourage Israel’s neighbors 

to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. 

(7) To encourage further development of advanced technology programs between the United States and Israel given 

current trends and instability in the region. 

SEC. 4. UNITED STATES ACTIONS TO ASSIST IN THE DEFENSE OF 

ISRAEL AND PROTECT UNITED STATES INTERESTS. 

It is the sense of Congress that the United States Government 

should take the following actions to assist in the defense of Israel: 

(1) Seek to enhance the capabilities of the Governments 

of the United States and Israel to address emerging common 

threats, increase security cooperation, and expand joint military 

exercises. 

(2) Provide the Government of Israel such support as may 

be necessary to increase development and production of joint 

missile defense systems, particularly such systems that defend 

against the urgent threat posed to Israel and United States 

forces in the region. 

(3) Provide the Government of Israel assistance specifically 

for the production and procurement of the Iron Dome defense 

system for purposes of intercepting short-range missiles, 

rockets, and projectiles launched against Israel. 

(4) Provide the Government of Israel defense articles and 

defense services through such mechanisms as appropriate, to 

include air refueling tankers, missile defense capabilities, and 

specialized munitions. 
S. 2165—3 

(5) Provide the Government of Israel additional excess 

defense articles, as appropriate, in the wake of the withdrawal 

of United States forces from Iraq. 

(6) Examine ways to strengthen existing and ongoing 

efforts, including the Gaza Counter Arms Smuggling Initiative, 

aimed at preventing weapons smuggling into Gaza pursuant 

to the 2009 agreement following the Israeli withdrawal from 

Gaza, as well as measures to protect against weapons smuggling and terrorist threats from the Sinai Peninsula. 

(7) Offer the Air Force of Israel additional training and 

exercise opportunities in the United States to compensate for 

Israel’s limited air space. 

(8) Work to encourage an expanded role for Israel with 

the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), including an 

enhanced presence at NATO headquarters and exercises. 

(9) Expand already-close intelligence cooperation, including 

satellite intelligence, with Israel. 

SEC. 5. ADDITIONAL STEPS TO DEFEND ISRAEL AND PROTECT AMERICAN INTERESTS. 

(a) EXTENSION OF WAR RESERVES STOCKPILE AUTHORITY.— 

(1) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005.— 

Section 12001(d) of the Department of Defense Appropriations 

Act, 2005 (Public Law 108–287; 118 Stat. 1011) is amended 

by striking ‘‘more than 8 years after’’ and inserting ‘‘more 

than 10 years after’’. 

(2) FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1961.—Section 514(b)(2)(A) 

of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321h(b)(2)(A)) 

is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal years 2011 and 2012’’ and 

inserting ‘‘fiscal years 2013 and 2014’’. 

(b) EXTENSION OF LOAN GUARANTEES TO ISRAEL.—Chapter 5 

of title I of the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations 

Act, 2003 (Public Law 108–11; 117 Stat. 576) is amended under 

the heading ‘‘LOAN GUARANTEES TO ISRAEL’’— 

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

‘‘September 30, 2011’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2015’’; and 

(2) in the second proviso, by striking ‘‘September 30, 2011’’ 

and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2015’’. 

SEC. 6. REPORTS REQUIRED. 

(a) REPORT ON ISRAEL’S QUALITATIVE MILITARY EDGE (QME).— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to 

the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives 

a report on the status of Israel’s qualitative military edge 

in light of current trends and instability in the region. 

(2) SUBSTITUTION FOR QUADRENNIAL REPORT.—If submitted 

within one year of the date that the first quadrennial report 

required by section 201(c)(2) of the Naval Vessel Transfer Act 

of 2008 (Public Law 110–429; 22 U.S.C. 2776 note) is due 

to be submitted, the report required by paragraph (1) may 

substitute for such quadrennial report. 

(b) REPORTS ON OTHER MATTERS.—Not later than 180 days 

after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall 

submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on 

each of the following matters: 
S. 2165—4 

(1) Taking into account the Government of Israel’s urgent 

requirement for F–35 aircraft, actions to improve the process 

relating to its purchase of F–35 aircraft, particularly with 

respect to cost efficiency and timely delivery. 

(2) Efforts to expand cooperation between the United States 

and Israel in homeland security, counter-terrorism, maritime 

security, energy, cyber-security, and other related areas. 

(3) Actions to integrate Israel into the defense of the 

Eastern Mediterranean. 

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act: 

(1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The term 

‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— 

(A) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee 

on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, 

and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; 

and 

(B) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee 

on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and 

the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the 

House of Representatives. 

(2) QUALITATIVE MILITARY EDGE.—The term ‘‘qualitative 

military edge’’ has the meaning given the term in section 

36(h)(2) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(h)(2)). 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.