As the US president pledged continued support for Israel’s right to defend itself against missile attack, in Israel, US ambassador Dan Shapiro visited an Iron Dome battery with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, before flying out to brief the White House on the Gaza situation. Barak thanked Obama and every American who helped make Iron Dome possible. This defense weapon has intercepted a total of 300 incoming Palestinian missiles, nearly 90 percent of the rockets threatening Israeli towns, Barak said. Its performance “made it possible for us to prepare the next stages of Operation Pillar of Cloud which may be even tougher."