U.S. backs another $680M for Israel shield

As Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu ramps up the threat of pre-emptive strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities, and the prospect of Iranian retaliation, a key U.S. House panel has approved another $680 million for the Netanyahu government's anti-missile defenses.

The move by a House Armed Services subcommittee far exceeds previous U.S. funding for the Iron Dome system, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to counter short-range missiles and rockets.

The $680 million, slated as part of the U.S. budget for fiscal 2013, will be in addition to the record $3.1 billion in U.S. military aid to Israel this year and some $100 million in U.S. support for medium- and long-range missile defense systems already pledged.