The Obama administration has granted an Israeli request for an additional $70 million to fund a so-called missile defense program known as “Iron Dome.” On Thursday, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the Pentagon will request the funding over the next three years. The money would come on top of the more than $200 million already allocated for the system and the additional $3 billion in annual U.S. military aid. Republicans say the U.S. funding for Iron Dome does not go far enough and are advancing a measure that would give Israel an additional $680 million. Speaking at a meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak thanked the White House for its support.

Ehud Barak: “I’m delighted to be here once again and to have an opportunity to discuss Middle Eastern issues with the Secretary. We are here. I was in the Pentagon. And we are highly appreciative of the approach of this administration, of the Secretary, of Secretary of Defense, and of course of the President, in regard to the security of Israel, making sure that in our tough neighborhood Israel will be strong and secure.”