Israel will demand $ 1 billion from the US Iron Dome New Israel-Palestine Conflict

Benny Gantz will meet with U.S. officials in Washington on Thursday, just weeks after an 11-day climb with Gaza.

Israeli defense chief Benny Gantz will travel to Washington on Thursday to demand a $ 1 billion request from the U.S. allies to shut down the Iron Dome air defense system, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham and Israeli officials have said.

Graham said he expects the U.S. to allow the request quickly within 11 days climbing Between Israel and Hamas, Israeli officials said the Iron Dome intercepted hundreds of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip.

“There will be a billion dollar demand at the Pentagon this week [Israeli] The defense minister is renewing the Iron Dome and other things, renewing the system, ”Graham told reporters during a visit to Jerusalem on Tuesday.

Israeli airstrikes killed 253 Palestinians in 11 days of fighting, including 66 children.

Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza had two children among the 12 people killed by rockets in Israel at the same time.

‘Extensive and in-depth support’

The demand comes amid growing criticism of U.S. arms sales to Israel, especially $ 3.8 billion unconditional support The US gives it to Israel every year.

There are now progressive legislators in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate trying Blocking a $ 735 million arms deal with Israel, which the White House approved shortly before the May 10 fighting began.

However, strong support for Israel remains strong among most U.S. lawmakers, and it is assured that efforts to reduce this will fail.

Speaking on Tuesday, Graham noted that support extends across party lines.

“There has been a big rift in the recent compromise between the Hamas and the State of Israel in the United States, but I am here to say that there is a wide and deep difference between Israel and the Democratic Party,” said Republican Graham. he said.

A senior Republican on the Senate Credit Committee met with Prime Minister Benjamin Israel Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz on his trip to Israel. The Commission oversees spending that includes foreign military assistance.

The Israeli Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said Gantz will meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Thursday to discuss issues such as Iran and military aid.

Biden had previously said he would re-form the Iron Dome, which helped Israel prevent more than 4,300 rockets from being fired from Israel during the conflict.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also confirmed that the Americans had sided with Israel in a trip to the region last week to bolster the May 21 Israel-Hamas ceasefire.