So, any future Israeli ability to protect their cities & populace in the emerging missile era will be dependent upon US generosity with financing and coin? SHOW A LITTLE GRATITUDE

Send them to Israel at mach 4.

I have no problem asking the Americans for more money to spend on Magic Wand because its based on a missile Rafael is co developing with Rayathon so there is something in it for the Americans and Magic Wand is a designed to shoot down cruise missiles etc whilst Iron Dome does not. We should not though be asking the Americans for more and more money to spend on Iron Dome whose uses are limited and there is no benefit to American taxpayers. If we want to do something about the rocket attacks the solution is not Iron Dome its Cast Lead 2 and allowing the IDF to run it their way, no unilateral withdraws so that Livni can get down to election campaigning.

That is the price for participating in Israeli technology. This is not a present or charity. The Chinese would be just as happy to participate in the technology. The fact of the matter is that all the US drone technology was born in israel and imparted to the US in the same way. The article is misleading.

I really grew up in a southern family in which we were told Jews were picked on and we should be kind to them.. But frankly I am so angry right now I am about enraged. ISRAEL CAN PAY FOR ITSELF. THIS IS DISGUSTING. My country is now trillions in debt for stupid wars and occupations across the mid east, and now we are supposed to foot the bill for ISRAELS national defense??? What insanity is this? I frankly wish Iran the best at this point, and I mean THAT.

The Obama family's vacations have cost the U.S. taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. Their 10-day trip in Dec. 2011 to Hawaii cost $4 million alone. And these are just vacations, not to mention Michelle Obama's extravagent shopping sprees on the U.S. dime. What has the U.S. taxpayer gotten in return? NOTHING but an economy that tanks more every day. Israel guarantees an 80% payback on U.S. investments (incorrectly called "aid") and has never defaulted. Moreover, the technology the U.S. receives from Israel has no price.

Our tax money goes to a bloated government who gives it away to countries that hate our guts and often don't need it. LIttle of it goes to our citizens. Most of it goes to create even more and bigger government. If some of it goes to Israel at least it's for a good cause.

Gratitude is a 2 way street. Israel can get by without us if they have to. You need to read Sarah B's entire post. Not just the part in capitol letters. Hopefully you will be able to understand it if you do so.

Sorry to inform you that I'm not an Arab. Secondly, I'm not a racist as you are and I don't think Arabs are the scum of the earth. And last, I stand by my statement in #4. You are blackmailing the U.S. by threatening to go to war with Iran. The whole world is against this crazy idea. If you insist on this, do it yourself, at your expense and don't drag America into it. You're deluding yourselves to think that America supports entering another war.

Do you really need me to recount how much the United States reaps from its investment in Israel? Facial recognition software presently in use in all major American airports; chemotherapy protocols; software technology unparalleled anywhere in the world; improvements to American military materiel .... the list is quite long. But you needn't worry about U.S. generosity with financing and coin -- Israel is a nuclear power.

But we get told Israel can defend itself without the help right?

Give 'em hell. Your right, no one can stand these SOB's, even their fellow muslims, who, at the moment, are too busy murdering their own unprotected, protesting, poverty stricken, ignorant masses. Notice not one of these anti semite on this board never mentions that? Orchestrated as if by design ( by the same dummies who expect some nut case to believe their bullshit.

He knows His own and loves them anyway. I suggest you do the same. He gives us enough time to see the errors of our ways.

Now, I see how every Israeli citizens gets free universal Health Care, while USA citizens go without HC in many cases. The USA is paying all the costs of the Israeli's for their Nations defense, they come asking for bonus billions (not really asking, TELLING their puppets what to do in our govt) and then with whatever portion of the US money that they do not spend for their own defense costs, they give their citizens free HC, while the americans who paid Israelis bills for them UNWILLINGLY, get the shaft.

Israel: grow up! NO MONEY FOR ISRAEL!

AS WILL MOST AMERICANS. OBAMA SUX, AND BLOWS, HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? HIS ASS SUX WIND, EXPELLED BY HIS MOUTH.

He can read?

...but Jewish money is popular with our politicians.

Indeed, gratitude is a 2-way street. The very thrust of my comment. Israel would be a true isolated, pariah state without the sheer weight of political, economic, and military coverage we extend on their behalf. The requesting of the 700 million for a missile defence system to protect their populace is but a particularly sharp reminder of that essential reliance. Israel needs the US like a drowning man needs a life preserver. Without the US, the world would collectively begin to squeeze Israel like a nut on every level, and this every Israeli is all too well aware of.

What are you Sarah B? American or Israeli? If you are a Jewish Israeli, then shut the eff up. You have no right to speak on behalf of Americans...

The fact of the matter is the Israeli govement has plenty of cash to build an infrastructure for the settlers in the occupied west bank and to pay the harideem to live a life of luxury while not working a day in their holy lives yet begs the US goverment to pay more and more US tax payers money while at the same time slaps the US in the face by delibratley going against US foreign policy and hindering every peace effort made by the US.

To silence anyone on this site. Sarah has obviously gotten under your skin. Maybe you need a break from Ynet.

consist of .. - An EL/M-2084 multimission radar (MMR) from Elta Systems - A fire control centre (computers) from mPrest Systems, - Three launchers, each carrying 20 Tamir interceptor missiles from Rafael. Since typically two Tamir (~USD 35k each) are fired at each attacking missile, once the enemy fires 30 concurrent missiles that are judged to be "dangerous," the battery becomes useless. Note, the battery does not fire unless the incoming missile is determined to be "dangerous," so for all practical purposes the enemy would need to either fire 30 very accurate missiles at real targets or fire more than 30 missiles. Note that during a massive war, each battery would very likely be attacked with far more than 30 missiles. Per the IDF, there are many more than 50k missiles targeted on Israel at this moment (I do not believe the 200K+ figure the IDF said a few months ago)

Actually, it is the Saudis who are putting the most pressure on Obama to attack Iran. Because Obama was so preoccupied with hating Jews, he supported Ahmadinejad against the Green Revolution, letting the Iranians get to the point of no return we are at. The reason he is supporting the Jihad / Brotherhood takeover of Syria is because that is the cheapest way to neutralize Syria, and the only one that won't cost him reelection. He is losing in Syria (making a very bloody war against Iran inevitable) because he wasted all his credits in the useless attack on Libya which served no American interest.