Blinken: US committed to replenishing Iron Dome

• Published date: 08 June 2021
• Date: 08 June 2021
• Author: Elad Benari

"We are working with the Israelis to fully understand their needs and working with Congress," Blinken told the House Foreign Affairs Committee during testimony on US President Joe Biden's 2022 budget request and the department's foreign policy priorities, according to i24NEWS.

"This is under very active review and we look forward to working with you to make sure that happens," Blinken said of fulfilling Israel's request for $1 billion in emergency funding for Iron Dome following 11 days of fighting with Gaza-based terrorist groups who launched more than 4,000 rockets at Israeli territory.

The Secretary of State reiterated the Biden administration's position that Israel has a right to defend itself against rockets fired indiscriminately at Israeli civilians.

"It would be unacceptable for any country to have rockets rain down on it indiscriminately targeting civilians and not do something about it," Blinken said, according to i24NEWS.

He added that as a democracy, Israel has an "extra burden to do everything it possibly can to avoid civilian casualties."

On Hamas, Blinken called it "hard to fathom" how anyone in the world could accept a terrorist organization that has "vowed in its own charter to destroy Israel."

After the recent round of fighting, US President Joe Biden said he ensured...