US Cuts Funding For Israeli Defense Systems

The United States has cut funding for Israel’s defense systems, even though a one-time grant appears to have raised the aid allocation.

The 2011 budget approved by Congress for the Arrow 3 program totaled $108.8 million. This included a White House request for $50.8 million, combined with another $58 million tacked on by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

Last year’s allocation was considerably higher, the Globes business news service points out. The White House had budgeted $60 million, and Congress had added another $97.4 million, bringing the total appropriation for the program to $157.4 million.

A $205 million grant intended to fund a 10-unit battery of the Iron Dome system to protect Israel’s southern flank against short-range Kassam rocket attacks was announced by the White House in May, pushing up the total amount of defense aid received by the Jewish State.

The generous aid package, however, is predicted to be a one-time grant, while the Arrow 3 funding cuts may be permanent.

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