US House seeks tighter US-Israeli missile defences

Washington, May 19: The US House of Representatives has adopted a measure aimed at weaving closer US and Israeli defences against ballistic missiles of the type that could be fired by Iran.

Part of a 504 billion dollars defense spending bill passed Thursday, the measure would redirect 205 million dollars in Defence Department funds toward projects already underway in Israel.

It would provide 25 million dollars more for Arrow missile co-production and integration, 45 million dollars for a US-Israeli short-range missile defence system dubbed ''David's Sling'' and 135 million dollars to buy a Theater High Altitude Area Defence, or THAAD, fire unit.

All three projects involve interceptors designed to shoot down ballistic missiles in the terminal phase of their flight paths.

The move was spearheaded by Rep Duncan Hunter of California, the senior Republican on the House Armed Services Committee and a candidate for his party's 2008 presidential nomination.

It was a last-minute addition to the Democratic-controlled House's version of the fiscal 2008 defence authorisation bill, which still awaits action in the Senate and reconciliation of any differences between the bills.

Overall, the House included about 8.2 billion dollars for the Pentagon's Missile Defence Agency, a net reduction of 764 million dollars from the sum sought by President Bush.

The House authorised all 1.4 billion dollars requested by the administration for the Patriot Advanced Capabilty-3 (PAC-3) and Medium Extended Air Defence System.

The Missile Defence Advocacy Alliance, a booster group funded partly by companies involved in building missile shields, applauded the initiative to further integrate US and Israeli missile defences.

''The more missile defence systems deployed the safer and more stable it is for the United States, our allies and our friends,'' said Riki Ellison, the group's president.

Reuters>