A proposal to send Israel $1 billion for the Iron Dome air defense system has been cut out of a stopgap government funding bill, meant to avoid a government shutdown after Sept. 30, in order to ease its passage in the House.
Austin's first talks in Israel since he became Pentagon chief in January come as the United States seeks to leverage Middle East diplomatic progress made by the Trump administration.
In the search for a defense against an increasing threat from missiles, rockets and drone, the Marine Corps has shown interest in linking current Marine radar systems with the very successful Israeli Iron Dome air defense system.