Israel’s critical security needs
Imagine you’re standing on top of a hill and just a few miles to the left is the Lebanon border with missiles pointed in your direction, ready to fire at a moment’s notice, and a few miles in front of you is the Syrian border. Suddenly, a bomb explodes in the distance and the former Israeli commander standing next to you explains that this is a regular sight these days as the Syrian civil war rages on.
This is where I stood during a recent trip to Israel, thinking about the truly unique security needs of one of our nation’s greatest allies. With the turmoil and political unrest that has engulfed the Middle East in recent years, Israel stands as a beacon of hope, freedom and democracy.
And as a Montanan, I am proud that our state and the Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) under the watch of Malmstrom Air Force Base protect not only the United States, but help to ensure Israel’s security as well.
Just a few days prior, I was in the southern part of Israel near the border with Gaza. After an up-close look at Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system we went underground to examine one of the dozens of Hamas-built tunnels that cross the border. These tunnels, constructed by Hamas with building materials intended for families in Gaza, are used to smuggle weapons and stage attacks on Israeli families living in the area. To protect innocent civilians, Israel has developed a series of missile defense systems including Iron Dome, which you can see pictured below.
We were also able to sit down with Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to talk about security concerns in the region as well as opportunities to enhance economic cooperation between our two countries.
It is one thing to read about Israel’s security concerns in the news, but seeing the reality first hand is an incredible reminder of how vital our relationship is to maintain peace in the region, and the role that Montana plays in doing so. I will continue to always stand with Israel.
