US Senate Delays Iron Dome Funding Approval
Republican Senator Rand Paul says "America cannot provide money it does not have."
On Tuesday, the US Senate rejected a request by Democrats to unanimously approve special assistance worth a billion dollars to “Israel” to replenish its Iron Dome missile-defense system. The funding proposal was submitted by the Democratic Senator, Bob Menendez, who is also Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Council.
According to the Israeli Kan Channel, Republican Senator Rand Paul objected, and as a result, the legislation moved to a normal procedure that could take several weeks.
Paul said he does support "Israel", but stressed that "the United States cannot provide money that it does not have."
The Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, commented on the opposition of Republican Senator, Rand Paul, who claimed that the United States does not need to approve special funding for the Iron Dome system, but rather use the aid money that was allocated to Afghanistan.
The newspaper reported that Paul is one of the "staunch critics of US aid policy" and that he suggested funding the Iron Dome "with money that will eventually reach the Taliban."
It added, "Democratic Senator Bob Menendez rejected Paul's allegations, arguing that such a decision could cause a domino effect with severe repercussions on US foreign policy and US national security."
Two weeks ago, the US House of Representatives approved a $1 billion bill for the replenishment of "Israel's" Iron Dome. At the time, the vote was passed by a large majority, with 420 deputies voting in favor, 9 voting against, and 2 abstaining from voting.
"Israel" relies on the Iron Dome system to intercept short-range missiles, and it obtains "Tamir" interceptor missiles used in the defense system from the United States of America, where one missile is estimated at 50 thousand dollars.