WASHINGTON (AFP) – The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday overwhelmingly backed President Barack Obama's plans to help Israel deploy an anti-missile system, in an unmistakable election-year show of support.

By a 410-4 margin, lawmakers endorsed Obama's plan to give Israel 205 million dollars for its production of a short-range rocket defense system called “Iron Dome.”
“With nearly every square inch of Israel at risk from rocket and missile attacks, we must ensure that our most important ally in the region has the tools to defend itself,” said House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman.
Israel completed tests in January on its Iron Dome system, designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells fired at Israel.
The next phase is to integrate the system into the army. Israel hopes the Iron Dome will help counter rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and from Lebanon.
The vote did not actually free up any funds for Iron Dome, but put the U.S. Congress on record as supporting the plan.
It came after ties between Israel and its key ally the United States were strained when plans for new Israeli settler homes in east Jerusalem were announced just as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visited Israel.
Photo: The “Iron Dome” rocket interceptor system tested by Israel. (AFP photo)
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