HARTFORD – As Israel faces an increasing number of defense challenges and threats, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) called on the administration to increase funding levels for defense aid to Israel, and to provide Israel with the resources and assistance they need to defend itself. Murphy released the following statement:

“I have always been a strong supporter of the state of Israel because our two nations’ interests, fates and values are inextricably linked. America’s national security depends on having a strong, safe and secure Israel as a democratic ally in a turbulent part of the world. The safety and security of Israel depend on support from the United States to both defend Israel and deter terror attacks. With Hezbollah and Hamas continuing to pose a dangerous threat to Israel’s national security, American support for Israel has never been so important. I have been pleased that the Obama Administration has taken military and security assistance and coordination between our two governments to levels never before seen. I appreciate the administration’s ongoing work to modernize the Memorandum of Understanding in order to increase American security assistance to Israel, and I hope that a long-term agreement will be presented to Congress as soon as possible. We must do all we can to keep Israel safe, which is why I will continue pushing this and future administrations to meet our ally’s growing demands for security assistance.”