President Biden on Wednesday toured a display of Israeli air defense systems at the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, as the Israelis are seeking American investment in its new laser-based system, known as the Iron Beam.
The showcase of Israeli systems came shortly after Biden arrived in Israel for his short tour of the Middle East, during which he will also visit the West Bank and Saudi Arabia. According to The Times of Israel, the weapons display included the long-range Arrow, medium-range David’s Sling, short-range Iron Dome, and the new Iron Beam.
The Iron Beam is meant to work in tandem with the Iron Dome, and the idea is since it uses lasers, ammunition will be much cheaper than other systems. Israeli officials have said the Iron Beam could be ready to be deployed to the Gaza border as soon as next year, although some media reports have said it won’t be operational for a few years.
A US official told the Times on Wednesday that Biden was expected to announce his approval for the US military-industrial complex to begin talks with their Israeli counterparts on purchasing the Iron Beam, but no announcement has yet been made. US support for the project could also come in the form of military aid.
Of the $3.8 billion in military aid that Israel receives each year from the US, $500 million goes towards missile defense systems. But Israel has been seeking more and secured an extra $1 billion to replenish the Iron Dome that it requested after Israel’s May 2021 bombing campaign in Gaza that killed over 250 Palestinians, including over 60 children. The extra $1 billion was included in an omnibus spending bill Biden signed into law back in March.
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz thanked Biden for providing the extra aid. “Under your rule, honorable president, security cooperation in the region has intensified and expanded in an unprecedented manner and Israel is grateful for this and also for your support with record US security assistance that included a billion dollars to replenish Iron Dome interceptors,” Gantz said.
Gantz also briefed the president on Israel’s increasing military cooperation with Arab countries in the region, which is set to be a major focus of Biden’s trip to the region. Biden is expected to push for more Israeli-Arab cooperation at a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit he will attend in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as part of an effort to build an anti-Iran military alliance.
For a billion, they’ll call you “honorable” anything. “Honorable” US citizens, Israel is grateful for the extra billion, while many of you are homeless, in prison, or without healthcare. Nice touch from Dave to point out, “….Israel’s May 2021 bombing campaign in Gaza that killed over 250 Palestinians, including over 60 children.“
Pure Trumpism. It’s like Jared Kushner never left. So, what exactly does the Iron Beam do?
In the next world war, the first strike will be against the eyes in the sky.
“Israeli officials have said the Iron Beam could be ready to be deployed to the Gaza border as soon as next year”
Yes, because that will prove how worthwhile it might be against all that sophisticated weaponry emitting from the outdoor prison called Gaza. Making shooting fish in a barrel just a little easier.
It is more like a Cotton Dome with not more than 1000 feet range…!
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz thanked Biden for providing the extra aid. “Under your rule, honorable president, security cooperation in the region has intensified and expanded in an unprecedented manner and Israel is grateful for this and also for your support with record US security assistance that included a billion dollars to replenish Iron Dome interceptors,” Gantz said.
I see Benny can kiss old ass with the best of them. At least he got an extra billion.
He is a kiss-ass zionist alright…”honorable president?!”,,, But he only kisses ass when a US president physically visit Israel…!
You’d have to receive a billion dollars to kiss ByeDone’s wrinkled old posterior.
Yes, I was gagging as I typed that.
How much lies and deception, My god ,I am 65 years old man disable with no job and just social security income , i am ashamed to look into my children Eyes, after all these years working and paying my taxes, Mr president why are you forced to pay bribe to these Ashkenazi beast, MR president my children are asking me as why u are paying our taxes to an apartheid country, Why are you borrowing money on my behalf to give to these people, and they dropping bomb on houses and destroy houses and killing children in their sleep .MR president why not taking tour and see us Americans sleep in tent and homeless all over. our house of reps and Washington DC is occupied by Zionist as well. Wake up America from your deep sleep and chasing American Dream as what is Going on.
Well said, Moses!
Joe Biden will do nothing that strengthens the US military.
Well, MR, it’s far more important to send IsraHell billions annually so that they can defend themselves against Palestinian bottle rockets.
lol…that’s called a ‘straw man’ argument.
Sorry, that’s called a “ fact”.
Your statement about bottle rockets is ridiculous and reduces your credibility to zero.
No “air defense” they have will protect them from the number of missiles Hezbollah has in Lebanon. And most of their “air defense” has been dismissed by Professor Ted Postel as ineffective. So unless they get the US to help them take out Hezbollah, they can’t have an Iran war without Hezbollah forcing the Israeli electorate into bomb shelters 24×7 for months causing their economy to evaporate. That’s what this meeting is really all about – getting the US to help Israel attack Lebanon.
They cannot even attack Lebanon without massive loss…!
The top secret name for “Iron Beam” is “soak the American saps again”.
Hezbollah handed the Zios their asses once. They’ll do it again.
“Israel Showcases Air Defense System to Biden”.
Well, isn’t that special. I guess the Zios felt the need to show off what the Amerikkkan taxpayer has allowed them to “accomplish “.
And conveniently located on the border with Gaza, so that when the next “mowing the lawn” operation begins, they can demonstrate how easily they can murder Palestinians!