The US-Israel Anti-Tunnel Defense Cooperation Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., and U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, D-Fla., won the support of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) this week.
Lamborns and Grahams bill would help develop a defense system in Israel to counter terrorists using tunnels to carry out their attacks. The sponsors of the bill compared it to the Iron Dome authorization in 2011. The Iron Dome defense system has prevented more than 1,200 rockets from hitting targets in Israel.
Every day, our closest ally in the Middle East -- Israel -- lives under the constant threat of terrorist attacks launched from underground tunnels, Graham said Tuesday. The US-Israel Anti-Tunnel Defense Cooperation Act will authorize an unprecedented new initiative to protect Israel from this dangerous threat.
The US-Israel Anti-Tunnel Defense Cooperation Act is similar to the 2011 legislative authorization for the highly successful Iron Dome Anti-Missile Defense System, which has stopped more than 1,200 rockets from hitting Israel.
"This past summer Iron Dome, the joint U.S.-Israel developed technology, saved thousands of Israeli citizens lives, Lamborn said. Now, Hamas and other terrorist groups are taking to the underground tunnels. This is a challenge not only to Israel but to the U.S. as well. I hope that this cooperation with Israel will emulate the success of Iron Dome so that we can find a solution that will protect American and Israeli lives."
The sponsors noted Hamas has already used almost $100 million to build tunnels which have been used for terrorist and smuggling operations, and said Israeli forces discovered 14 tunnels during the Gaza conflict last summer.
AIPAC sent a letter on Monday to Graham and Lamborn backing their bill.
To secure peace, we must first help Israel secure their state from terrorist attacks, Graham said. Iron Dome has saved countless civilian lives, and I believe an anti-tunneling defense shield will save countless more.
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