Ft Wayne Times

Rep. Jim Banks (IN-03), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Military Personnel, successfully passed two amendments to the House’s Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act aimed at supporting Israel.

Rep. Banks stated, “Israel is under attack from Hamas terrorists, the sham prosecutors at the ICC, and even from the Biden administration, which is withholding its defense aid while sending Gaza billions in ‘humanitarian’ funds. It’s more important than ever for Congress to stand with Israel, and my amendments will help force the Biden administration to work with Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East, to ensure it has the means to defend itself from further terrorist attacks.”

The amendments include:

1. **Expanding CENTCOM-Israel Air and Missile Defense Integration**: This amendment requires the Department of Defense to develop a strategy for enhancing cooperation on joint air and missile defense activities within CENTCOM among U.S. allies such as Israel and Arab states to counter potential Iranian attacks.

2. **U.S.-Israel Counter-Tunneling Exercises**: This amendment mandates an annual U.S.-Israel exercise focused on detecting, maneuvering in, and neutralizing tunnel complexes.

Previously, Rep. Banks’ amendment for an Israel Joint Strike Exercise was included in the FY24 NDAA, requiring CENTCOM to conduct multiple joint strike exercises with Israel. The FY24 House NDAA also contained several other provisions from Rep. Banks aimed at strengthening U.S.-Israel relations.