The Pentagon will press Congress for more funding for the Zionist entity’s Iron Dome short-range air defense system

The Pentagon said Tuesday it will press Congress for more funding for the Zionist entity’s Iron Dome short-range air defense system.

“Supporting the security of the state of Israel is a top priority of President Obama and Secretary (Leon) Panetta,” Pentagon press secretary George Little said in a statement.

Little added that the Department of Defense has been in conversations with the Zionist entity about US support for the acquisition of additional Iron Dome systems indicating it intends to request an appropriate level of funding from Congress to support such acquisitions based on Israeli requirements and production capacity. 

“When nearly 300 rockets and mortars were fired at southern Israel, Iron Dome intercepted over 80 percent of the targets it engaged, saving many civilian lives,” the Pentagon's statement said.

The United States spent $204 million on the Iron Dome system in fiscal year 2011 and the Pentagon did not specify what level of funding it would propose to Congress for additional batteries.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak welcomed the announcement. "The American decision is further reflect that depth of Israel-US defense relations and it's a badge of honor to Israel's military industries, which developed Iron Dome, according to the Israeli daily Ynet. "I welcome the American administration's decision to aid in bolstering Israel's security," he said.