This year’s bill includes Section 224, the “United States–Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative,” which establishes a formal framework to expand U.S.–Israel defense technology cooperation across research, development, production, and procurement.
Specifically, it directs the Pentagon to:
- Expand joint research, development, and testing of defense technologies
- Advance co-production and manufacturing partnerships with Israeli industry
- Integrate Israeli-origin technologies into U.S. military systems
- Coordinate cooperation across AI, autonomous systems, cyber, missile defense, biotechnology, and other emerging technologies
- Transition joint R&D directly into U.S. procurement and acquisition programs
- Report regularly to Congress on implementation through 2030
Section 224 reflects a policy framework previously introduced in standalone legislation (including the FUTURES Act, S. 3855). Though that bill did not advance independently, its core provisions were incorporated into the House Armed Services Committee’s NDAA draft.
Section 224 cannot be included in the final version of the NDAA. As public opposition grows, Congress should not be creating new ways to deepen U.S. military ties with a government facing serious accusations of war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law, including genocide allegations now before international bodies.
The House is expected to vote on the bill in July. Let’s make sure what they vote on doesn’t include Section 224.