1.This Act may be cited as
the United States-Israel Enhanced
Security Cooperation Act of 2012
.
2.Congress makes the following
findings:
(1)Since the State
of Israel was established in 1948, Presidents of both parties and both Houses
of Congress, supported by the American people, have recognized the special bond
between the United States and Israel, based on shared values and shared
interests.
(2)The Middle East
is undergoing rapid change, bringing with it hope for an expansion of democracy
but also profound challenges to regional security—particularly to our most
important ally, Israel—and to the national security of the United
States.
(3)The past year has
witnessed the fall of old regimes and the rise of political parties in the
Middle East who must now choose between a course of moderation and inclusion in
the international community or a course of extremism and isolation.
(4)The Government of
the Islamic Republic of Iran is continuing its decades-long pattern of seeking
to foment instability in the Middle East, particularly in this time of dramatic
political transition.
(5)At the same time,
the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to enrich uranium in
defiance of international law.
(6)A nuclear-weapons
capable Iran would fundamentally threaten vital United States interests,
encourage regional nuclear proliferation, further empower Iran, the world’s
leading state sponsor of terror, and pose a serious and destabilizing threat to
Israel and the region.
(7)Over the past
several years, with the assistance of the Governments of the Islamic Republic
of Iran and Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas have increased their stockpile of
rockets, with more than 60,000 now ready to be fired at Israel. The Government
of the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to develop its missile technology as
well, including cruise missiles.
(8)As a result, the
Government and people of Israel are facing a fundamentally altered strategic
environment fraught with new and profound challenges.
3.Statement of
United States policyIt is the
policy of the United States:
(1)To reaffirm our
unwavering commitment to the security of the State of Israel as a Jewish state,
as President Barack Obama stated on December 16, 2011, America’s
commitment and my commitment to Israel and Israel’s security is
unshakeable,
and as President George W. Bush stated before the Israeli
Knesset on May 15, 2008, on the 60th anniversary of the founding of the State
of Israel, The alliance between our governments is unbreakable, yet the
source of our friendship runs deeper than any treaty.
.
(2)To provide the
Government of Israel the military capabilities necessary to deter and defend
itself against any threat or possible combination of threats.
(3)To assist the
Government of Israel with its ongoing efforts to forge a peaceful, negotiated
settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that results in two states
living side-by-side in peace and security, and to encourage Israel’s neighbors
to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.
(4)To veto any
one-sided anti-Israel resolutions at the United Nations Security
Council.
(5)To support
Israel’s inherent right to self-defense.
(6)To pursue every
opportunity to expand cooperation with the Government of Israel on defense and
national security matters and across the spectrum of civilian sectors,
including advanced technology, agriculture, medicine, health, pharmaceuticals,
and energy.
4.It is the sense of
Congress that the United States Government should take the following actions to
assist in the defense of Israel:
(1)Seek to enhance
the capabilities of the Governments of the United States and Israel to address
emerging common threats, increase security cooperation, and expand joint
military exercises.
(2)Work to encourage
an expanded role for Israel within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO), including an enhanced presence at NATO headquarters and
exercises.
(3)Expand
already-close intelligence cooperation, including satellite intelligence, with
the Government of Israel.
(4)Examine ways to
strengthen existing and ongoing efforts, including the Gaza Counter Arms
Smuggling Initiative, aimed at preventing weapons smuggling into Gaza pursuant
to the 2009 agreement following the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, as well as
measures to protect against weapons smuggling and terrorist threats from the
Sinai Peninsula.
(5)Provide the
Government of Israel with necessary support to increase development and
production of joint missile defense systems, particularly such systems that
defend the urgent threat posed to Israel and United States forces in the
region.
(6)Make every effort
to assure the provision to the Government of Israel of defensive equipment
through such mechanisms as lend-lease, to include air refueling tankers,
missile defense capabilities, and specialized munitions.
(7)Undertake efforts
to make available for purchase by the Government of Israel surplus defense
items, particularly those resulting from the end of United States combat
operations in Iraq.
(8)Offer the Air
Force of Israel additional training and exercise opportunities in the United
States to compensate for Israel’s limited air space.
5.Additional steps
to defend israel and protect american interests
(a)Extension of
war reserves stockpile authority
(1)Department of
Defense Appropriations Act, 2005Section 12001(d) of the
Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005 (Public Law 108–287; 118 Stat.
1011) is amended by striking more than 8 years after
and
inserting more than 10 years after
.
(2)Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961Section 514(b)(2)(A) of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321h(b)(2)(A)) is amended by striking
fiscal years 2011 and 2012
and inserting fiscal years
2013 and 2014
.
(b)Extension of
loan guarantees to IsraelChapter 5 of title I of the Emergency
Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003 (Public Law 108–11; 117 Stat.
576) is amended under the heading Loan Guarantees to
Israel
—
(1)in the matter
preceding the first proviso, by striking September 30, 2011 and
inserting September 30, 2015
; and
(2)in the second
proviso, by striking September 30, 2011
and inserting
September 30, 2015
.
6.
(a)Report on
Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge (QME)Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report on the status of Israel’s qualitative
military edge in light of current trends and instability in the Middle East
region, including what, if any, mitigating technologies could be provided to
the Government of Israel to counter increasing threats in the region.
(b)Not later than
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the following
matters:
(1)Actions to
improve the acquisition process for the purchase of F–35 aircraft by Israel,
particularly with respect to cost efficiency and on-time delivery, taking into
account the urgent need of the Government of Israel for such aircraft.
(2)Efforts to expand cooperation between the
United States Government and the Government of Israel in homeland security,
counter-terrorism, maritime security, energy, cyber-security, and other related
areas.
(3)Actions to integrate Israel into the
defense of the Eastern Mediterranean.
7.In this Act:
(1)Appropriate
congressional committeesThe
term appropriate congressional committees means—
(A)the Committee on
Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign
Relations, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
(B)the Committee on
Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of
Representatives.
(2)Qualitative
military edgeThe term qualitative military edge has
the meaning given the term in section 36(h)(2) of the Arms Export Control Act
(22 U.S.C. 2776(h)(2)).