I 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2717 

To authorize further assistance to Israel for the Iron Dome anti-rocket 

defense system and authorization for cooperation on the David’s Sling, 

Arrow, and Arrow 3 anti-missile defense systems. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 17, 2013 

Mr. ROSKAM (for himself and Mr. DEUTCH) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

A BILL 

To authorize further assistance to Israel for the Iron Dome 

anti-rocket defense system and authorization for cooperation on the David’s Sling, Arrow, and Arrow 3 antimissile defense systems. 

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 Missile Defense Cooperation Act of 2013’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 


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1 (1) The State of Israel remains under grave 

2 threat and frequent attack from missiles, rockets, 

3 and mortar shells fired at Israeli civilian targets by 

4 militants from Foreign Terrorist Organizations such 

5 as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad on its 

6 southern border and by Hezbollah on its northern 

7 border, which have killed, wounded, or inflicted psy8 chological trauma on countless Israelis. Additionally, 

9 Israel faces a potential ballistic missile threat from 

10 Iran and Syria. 

11 (2) The United States-Israel Enhanced Security 

12 Cooperation Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8601 et seq.) 

13 established the policy of the United States to sup14 port the inherent right of Israel to self-defense. 

15 (3) The United States remains committed to 

16 Israel’s qualitative military edge, including its ad17 vantage over non-state actors such as Hezbollah and 

18 Hamas, which boast increasingly sophisticated and 

19 powerful weapons as a result of support from Iran, 

20 Syria, and other state actors. 

21 (4) The United States can help to advance its 

22 own vital national security interests and the cause of 

23 Middle Eastern peace and stability by supporting 

24 Israel’s ability to defend itself against missiles, rock25 ets, and other threats. 


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1 (5) United States-Israel missile defense co2 operation dates back over two decades with great 

3 success, such as the Arrow Weapon System, which 

4 is already protecting Israel. These systems are life5 saving, war-preventing and the technologies of the 

6 cooperative programs belong to both the United 

7 States and Israel. 

8 (6) United States industries are equal partners 

9 in the development of the cooperative systems, which 

10 creates employment opportunities in the United 

11 States and Israel. All technical milestones to date 

12 have been met on time. 

13 (7) The David’s Sling Weapon System 

14 (DSWS), in joint development by the United States 

15 and Israel, is being designed to intercept short-range 

16 and medium-range ballistic missiles, long-range 

17 rockets, and cruise missiles. 

18 (8) The David’s Sling Weapon System success19 fully intercepted an inert medium-range rocket in 

20 November 2012, and defense officials expect the pro21 gram to be fully operational as planned on time. 

22 (9) The Arrow 3 Weapon System, in joint de23 velopment by the United States and Israel, is being 

24 designed to intercept long-range missiles in high altiVerDate Mar 15 2010 21:54 Jul 18, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2717.IH H2717

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1 tude in order to minimize leakage from a nuclear or 

2 chemical warhead. 

3 (10) The Arrow 3 Weapon System completed a 

4 successful fly-out test in February 2013 and July 

5 2013. 

6 (11) The Arrow Weapon System, in joint devel7 opment between the United States and Israel, has 

8 been operational since 2000 and targets medium9 range ballistic missiles. 

10 (12) The Israeli Defense Forces report that the 

11 Iron Dome anti-rocket defense system has achieved 

12 a success rate of more than 85 percent, intercepting 

13 rockets bound for residential neighborhoods, busy 

14 road junctions, shopping centers, and crowded 

15 streets across Israel. 

16 (13) The success of the Iron Dome anti-rocket 

17 defense system during Operation Pillar of Defense in 

18 November 2012 averted massive Israeli casualties, 

19 thereby decreasing Israel’s need to conduct a 

20 ground-based attack against Gaza-based terrorists, 

21 enhancing Israel’s operational flexibility, and pre22 venting terrorists from plunging the region into cri23 sis whenever they choose. 

24 (14) Israel has indicated that it is ready to 

25 share the technology of the Iron Dome anti-rocket 


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1 defense system with the United States, which would 

2 strengthen United States defense capabilities. 

3 (15) The Government of Israel currently has 

4 five operational Iron Dome batteries deployed in the 

5 field, which are far from sufficient to protect all of 

6 Israel’s territory. 

7 SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE TO ISRAEL FOR 

8 THE IRON DOME ANTI-ROCKET DEFENSE SYS9 TEM AND AUTHORIZATION FOR COOPERA10 TION ON THE DAVID’S SLING, ARROW, AND 

11 ARROW 3 ANTI-MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEMS. 

12 The President, acting through the Secretary of De13 fense and the Secretary of State, is authorized to provide 

14 assistance, upon request of the Government of Israel, for 

15 the procurement of the Iron Dome anti-rocket defense sys16 tem, as well as authorization for cooperation on the devel17 opment, maintenance, enhancement, and sustainment of 

18 the David’s Sling, Arrow, and Arrow 3 anti-missile defense 

19 systems, for the purposes of intercepting short-range, me20 dium-range, and long-range rockets, missiles, and projec21 tiles launched against Israel. 

Æ 


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