Hamas Breaks Truce by Resuming Rocket Attacks on Israel

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's leader says the country will exert "great force" against Gaza's Hamas rulers after the Islamic militants rejected a truce agreement.

Israel halted its fire for six hours Tuesday after accepting an Egyptian truce proposal. But with Hamas continuing to launch rockets into Israel, it resumed strikes in the afternoon.

Benjamin Netanyahu said in an evening address aired live on television that Israel has "no choice" but to respond more forcefully.

Netanyahu said "Hamas chose to continue fighting and will pay the price for that decision."

The Israeli military says Gaza militants fired close to 125 rockets since the truce was to have begun. An Israeli civilian was killed Tuesday by fire from the Gaza Strip, the first Israeli death in more than a week of fighting.

CONGRESS-IRON DOME

Senate panel doubles money for Israel's Iron Dome

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Senate panel has backed a defense spending bill that would double the amount of money for Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system.

The move by the Appropriations defense subcommittee comes as the system has proven successful in shooting down Hamas' rockets in the latest hostilities between Israel and Hamas.

The defense bill would provide $351 million for Iron Dome, double what the Obama administration requested. Republican and Democratic administrations have typically requested a smaller amount for the program designed to intercept short-range rockets and mortars, knowing Congress will increase it.

Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the chairman of the panel, said the system is working and the increase was crucial with Israel facing rockets from Gaza militants.

Overall, the defense bill would provide $549.3 billion for fiscal 2015.