Senate bill would require documentation for any limits on U.S.-Israel intelligence sharing

A Senate bill would require any future president who seeks to suspend, reduce, or limit intelligence and security cooperation with Israel to document the decision and cite a specific national security concern. The measure forms part of the proposed Senate Intelligence Authorization Act.

It states that the U.S.-Israel intelligence partnership addresses shared concerns including terrorist threats, sanctions evasion, and actions by state and non-state actors.

Provisions on defense cooperation The bill directs that U.S. security assistance be structured to help Israel maintain its qualitative military edge. It also calls for assessments of progress toward integrating Israel into regional air and missile defense and early warning systems with partner countries.

Future presidents would be required to report to congressional committees on steps taken to increase shared intelligence and to integrate technological hardware and software among the U.S., Israel, and partner nations.

Background and timing The legislation was introduced on May 20 and remains pending before the full Senate. It follows recent missile exchanges involving the U.S. and Israel during the Iran conflict, during which U.S. forces expended more interceptors than Israeli forces, according to the Washington Post.

The bill states that intelligence sharing can be curtailed only when a president identifies a concrete national security justification.