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Lawmakers Propose U.S.-Israel Anti-Tunnel Defense Cooperation
(Rep. Gwen Graham) Reps. Gwen Graham (D-Fla.) and Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) introduced legislation Tuesday to authorize joint U.S.-Israel research and development of an anti-tunneling defense system to protect Israel from terrorist attacks. "Every day, our closest ally in the Middle East - Israel - lives under the constant threat of terrorist attacks launched from underground tunnels," Graham said. The initiative is seen as similar to the 2011 legislative authorization for the highly successful Iron Dome Anti-Missile Defense System, which has stopped more than 1,200 rockets from hitting Israel. Lamborn added, "This past summer Iron Dome, the joint U.S.-Israel-developed technology, saved thousands of Israeli citizens' lives. Now, Hamas and other terrorist groups are taking to the underground tunnels....I hope that this cooperation with Israel will emulate the success of Iron Dome." The anti-tunneling defense technology discovered in this joint project could also be used to protect American military bases and its borders with Mexico and Canada. The bipartisan legislation is endorsed by AIPAC.