Congressman Steve Rothman Thanked by IDF Chief of Staff, General Benny Gantz, and Israeli Ambassador to the US, Michael Oren

Statement

On March 20, 2012, Congressman Steve Rothman (NJ-9) was thanked by the Israel Defense Force (IDF) Chief of Staff, General Benny Gantz, and Israeli Ambassador to the US, Michael Oren, for the Congressman's leadership in championing support for Iron Dome and joint US-Israel missile defense programs, as well as his outspoken advocacy for a strong US-Israel relationship.

"Over the past weeks, we have once again seen the tremendous importance and effectiveness of the Iron Dome rocket defense system that is now deployed in Israel. In the face of rockets fired by terrorists from Gaza into southern Israel, Iron Dome has been remarkably successful in saving lives and preventing all-out war," said Congressman Rothman. "As part of Israel's defensive and offensive capabilities, Iron Dome helps give Israel the ability to protect its civilians while giving Israel's leaders the strategic space and time to take the appropriate action to root out terrorists in Gaza. In this latest round of attacks, Iron Dome intercepted more than 90% of incoming rockets."

Congressman Rothman serves on the 15 person House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee that allocates funding for all US-Israel joint missile and rocket defense systems. Since 2007, the subcommittee has invested more than $1 billion in these essential programs.

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