US will more than double investment in Israel’s Iron Dome in 2015: Rice
US National Security Adviser Susan Rice says the United States will increase its investment in Israel’s Iron Dome missile system next year.
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"In recent weeks, on average, over 100 rockets a day have been fired at Israel. Iron dome has literally meant the difference between life and death, and I'm deeply proud that President Obama helped make it possible,” she said during her speech at the National Leadership Assembly for Israel in Washington, D.C. on Monday.
“I'm proud that with his enthusiastic support, the United States will more than double our investment in Iron Dome in 2015," Rice added.
"The president also instructed the secretary of defense to inform congress last week that we support an additional $225 million dollars, to accelerate the production of Iron Dome components in Israel this year, and maintain Israel's stockpile of interceptor missiles. Now, now Congress has a critical opportunity this week, to fund the president's supplemental request so that Israel can remain secure," Rice continued.
Since July 8, Israeli warplanes have been pounding numerous sites in the Gaza Strip, demolishing houses and burying families in the rubble.
Israeli tanks also began a ground offensive against the impoverished Palestinian land on July 17.
In response to the attacks, Palestinian resistance fighters fired rockets into Israeli cities. The Iron Dome has reportedly shot down most of the rockets fired from Gaza.
More than 1,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed so far in the Israeli attacks and over 6,500 others have been injured.
The senior White House adviser defended Secretary of State John Kerry after Israeli media attacked him over a peace proposal to end the bloodshed in Gaza.
“We’ve been dismayed by some press reports in Israel mischaracterizing his efforts last week to achieve a ceasefire,” Rice said.
“The reality is that John Kerry, on behalf of the United States, has been working every step of the way with Israel in support of our shared interests,” Rice said. “We’ll continue to set the record straight when anyone distorts the facts.”
Meanwhile, a protester was detained at the event for interrupting Rice’s speech. The protester was shouting "Israel is killing innocent people in Gaza."
