Congresswoman Lois Frankel issued the following statement in regards to the passage of the bi-partisan H.J.Res 76 to provide $225 million in immediate emergency funding to replenish Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system.

“This funding is crucial to the defense of Israeli citizens from Hamas terrorism.  It is a testament to the United States’ long standing and deep friendship with Israel,” said Frankel.

Iron Dome is an advanced missile defense system developed by Israel with the support of American funding. It has been critical to saving hundreds of Israeli lives in the latest conflict with Hamas.

In this past month alone, Hamas militants have fired over 3,000 rockets at Israeli cities. The Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted over 500 of these rockets.

The Israel Defense Force (IDF) reports that the Iron Dome has had an 86 percent success rate in this conflict. Iron Dome’s advanced technology allows it to intercept only those rockets on a trajectory toward major population or infrastructure centers. In the few instances that these rockets have penetrated Iron Dome’s protective shield, there has been significant damage to homes, cars, schools, and infrastructure. Three Israeli civilians have also been killed in these attacks.

Due to the high cost of each individual interceptor missile, this emergency funding is needed for Israel’s continued defense from Hamas’ rockets of terror.

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