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)).
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 1948, United States
Presidents and both houses of Congress, on a bipartisan basis and supported by
the American people, have repeatedly reaffirmed 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 great challenges to the national security of the United States and our
allies in the region, particularly to our most important ally in the region,
Israel.
(3)The Government of the
Islamic Republic of Iran is continuing its decades-long pattern of seeking to
foment instability and promote extremism in the Middle East, particularly in
this time of dramatic political transition.
(4)At the same time, the
Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to enrich uranium in
defiance of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.
(5)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.
(6)Over the past several
years, with the assistance of the Governments of the Islamic Republic of Iran
and Syria, Hizbollah 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 add to its arsenal of ballistic missiles and
cruise missiles, which threaten Iran’s neighbors, Israel, and United States
Armed Forces in the region.
(7)As a result, Israel is
facing a fundamentally altered strategic environment.
(8)Pursuant to chapter 5 of
title 1 of the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003 (Public
Law 108–11; 117 Stat. 576), the authority to make available loan guarantees to
Israel is currently set to expire on September 30, 2012.
3.It 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 help the Government of
Israel preserve its qualitative military edge amid rapid and uncertain regional
political transformation.
(3)To veto any one-sided
anti-Israel resolutions at the United Nations Security Council.
(4)To support Israel’s
inherent right to self-defense.
(5)To pursue avenues to
expand cooperation with the Government of Israel both in defense and across the
spectrum of civilian sectors, including high technology, agriculture, medicine,
health, pharmaceuticals, and energy.
(6)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.
(7)To encourage further
development of advanced technology programs between the United States and
Israel given current trends and instability in the region.
4.United states actions to
assist in the defense of Israel and protect United States
interestsIt 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)Provide the Government of
Israel such support as may be necessary to increase development and production
of joint missile defense systems, particularly such systems that defend against
the urgent threat posed to Israel and United States forces in the
region.
(3)Provide the Government of
Israel assistance specifically for the production and procurement of the Iron
Dome defense system for purposes of intercepting short-range missiles, rockets,
and projectiles launched against Israel.
(4)Provide the Government of
Israel defense articles and defense services through such mechanisms as
appropriate, to include air refueling tankers, missile defense capabilities,
and specialized munitions.
(5)Provide the Government of
Israel additional excess defense articles, as appropriate, in the wake of the
withdrawal of United States forces from Iraq.
(6)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.
(7)Offer the Air Force of
Israel additional training and exercise opportunities in the United States to
compensate for Israel’s limited air space.
(8)Work to encourage an
expanded role for Israel with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO),
including an enhanced presence at NATO headquarters and exercises.
(9)Expand already-close
intelligence cooperation, including satellite intelligence, with Israel.
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)
(1)Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the President shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations
of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives a report on the status of Israel’s qualitative military edge in
light of current trends and instability in the region.
(2)Substitution for
quadrennial reportIf submitted within one year of the date that
the first quadrennial report required by section 201(c)(2) of the Naval Vessel
Transfer Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–429; 22 U.S.C. 2776 note) is due to be
submitted, the report required by paragraph (1) may substitute for such
quadrennial report.
(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 each of the following matters:
(1)Taking into account the
Government of Israel’s urgent requirement for F-35 aircraft, actions to improve
the process relating to its purchase of F–35 aircraft, particularly with
respect to cost efficiency and timely delivery.
(2)Efforts to expand
cooperation between the United States and 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)).
June 27, 2012
Reported with an amendment