Israel Successfully Tests Missile Defense System in Alaska

Israel successfully conducted a series of tests of a new missile defense system in Alaska, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday. The test was done with the cooperation of the American Missile Defense Agency (MDA), Israel Aerospace Industries and the Israeli Air Force.

The Arrow 3 missile defense system is meant to intercept ballistic missiles outside of the atmosphere.

According to the Israeli Defense Ministry the tests were done in Alaska “to carry out tests of the system’s capabilities that can’t be done in Israel.”

Netanyahu bragged about the success of the tests during a government meeting on Sunday, “The execution was perfect. Today Israel has the capacity to act against ballistic missiles launched at us from Iran or anywhere else.”

These tests come after Iran tested a medium-range ballistic missile last week. The tests are no doubt a warning to Iran, showing them Israel has the full support and cooperation of the US military.

“We are committed to assisting the government of Israel in upgrading its national missile defense capability to defend the state of Israel and deployed U.S. forces from emerging threats,” Vice Admiral John Hill, director of the MDA said in a statement.

Netanyahu is up for reelection again in September, after failing to form a new government back in May. Any show of support from the US is good for Netanyahu. The tests come after the house overwhelmingly passed a symbolic resolution condemning the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. BDS is a campaign that was founded to pressure Israel over the occupation of Palestine.

The passing of the anti-BDS resolution may prevent Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN) resolution from getting a vote, which expresses support for American’s right to boycott other nations.

The recent vote and the Israeli military testing weapons in the US shows the people of Israel that Netanyahu has Washington and the Pentagon in his pocket, making his victory in the September election more likely.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.