News

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today applauded the Senate’s overwhelming passage of the United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018 (S.2497), bipartisan legislation that he and Senator Christopher Coons (D-DE) introduced to strengthen the U.S.-Israel strategic alliance by authorizing foreign military financing for Israel over the next 10 years pursuant to the new Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries in September 2016. The bill also supports Israel’s ability to meet and address both conventional and emerging threats.

“At a time when the Jewish state of Israel faces unpresented threats from Iran’s terror-sponsoring regime, Assad’s barbaric dictatorship in Syria, and terrorist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, this bipartisan legislation advances American efforts to ensure that Israel, a vibrant democracy and our closest ally in the Middle East, has all that it needs to defend itself,” Rubio said. “I thank my colleagues in the Senate for their support of the Rubio-Coons bill, and hope that the House of Representatives soon passes the legislation and sends it to the White House for the President’s signature.”

“The passage of this bipartisan legislation represents the continuation of America’s unshakable, seven-decade commitment to Israel’s security,” said Senator Coons. “The security assistance included in this bill will help Israel protect itself in the midst of regional instability; deter – and if necessary defend against – Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas; and deepen bilateral ties for the next decade and beyond.”

Background:

• In addition to authorizing security assistance for Israel during a 10-year period, the Rubio-Coons legislation extends both the Loan Guarantee authority for Israel and the War Reserves Stockpile Authority for Israel for a 5-year period (FY2019-23).

• The bill also reiterates that it is U.S. policy to ensure Israel’s qualitative military edge (QME); authorizes the transfer of precision guided munitions (PGMs) and related defense articles and services to the reserve stocks in Israel for self-defense purposes; and seeks to enhance cooperation and coordination between the two countries in a variety of sectors, including through the use of memoranda of understanding between USAID and the Government of Israel.