On April 2, Israeli officials declared operational the newest component of Israel’s layered missile defense system, David’s Sling, at Hatzor Air Force Base near Ashdod. David’s Sling was jointly developed by Israel and the United States, and represents the layer of protection in-between the lower-tier Iron Dome, and the higher-tier Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the ceremony that the missile defense system’s “cutting-edge technology” will protect Israel from its enemies, further stating that “whoever seeks to hit us will be hit… whoever threatens our existence places himself in existential danger.”