The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on June 19 unanimously approved legislation that would strengthen security cooperation between the United States and Israel. The bill now moves to the full Senate for a vote.

The United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act  (S. 2165), spearheaded by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA), recommends several ways to strengthen U.S.-Israel strategic cooperation in such fields as missile defense, homeland security, energy, intelligence and cyber-security.

The House version of the bill (H.R. 4133) passed on May 8 by a resounding vote of 411-2, and was led by Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD).

House and Senate lawmakers introduced the legislation to help both nations face the unprecedented shared challenges in the Middle East, including Iran's nuclear drive, Arab political instability, and the rapidly growing arsenals of Hamas and Hizballah.