Israel’s Innovation Shield Gets a Boost

A bold proposal to anchor United States–Israel defense innovation in the heart of the Start-Up Nation

If you follow American politics even loosely, chances are the name Zach Nunn is not one you hear every day. He is no media darling, no firebrand influencer, no Capitol Hill celebrity. But if you care about Israel, you truly care about Israel, then you ought to know his name.

Congressman Zach Nunn of Iowa is a quiet powerhouse. A 20-year combat veteran, current Air Force Colonel, and proud conservative, Nunn has been one of Israel’s most consistent, clear-eyed, and courageous supporters in Washington – especially during the more difficult years under the Biden administration. He does not just say the right things; he does the right things. And his latest move is one of his most visionary yet in my opinion.

Last week, the United States House of Representatives advanced Nunn’s proposal to establish a United States–Israel Defense Innovation Field Office in Israel. If passed into law, the Pentagon would be required to set up this new field hub within six months, a powerful physical and strategic presence that would elevate Israel’s tech-defense collaboration to new heights.

I have followed this amendment’s journey closely. To me, it is more than just a legislative proposal; it is a powerful reaffirmation of a deeper truth: that Israel remains the Western world’s first line of defense, and that the United States–Israel bond must grow stronger, faster, and smarter in the face of mounting threats from Iran, China, and an increasingly unstable global order. To put too fine a point on it: if the Pentagon opens a Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) office in Israel, it will be a game-changer.

This would be the first such DIU field office in the Middle East, joining the ranks of existing United States defense innovation agreements with the UK, Japan, Singapore, and the UAE. But Israel is different. Israel does not only innovate in defense, it redefines the very future of warfare. From Iron Dome to smart munitions, from autonomous drones to missile interception lasers, Israel’s defense sector has delivered results under fire like no other.

And it is not only hardware. It is also mindset – the boldness, resilience, and relentless creativity that drives Israeli engineers, coders, and battlefield commanders. That is what Nunn understands. That is what he is trying to bottle, scale and deepen through this initiative.

According to the amendment, the Israel-based DIU facility would engage directly with the Israeli Ministry of Defense and private sector firms – identifying dual-use technologies, coordinating rapid tech deployment, and sharing battlefield innovation in real time. It is not all about shiny new gadgets. It is about ensuring United States and Israeli forces stay ahead competitively, and decisively superior in the age of AI, drones, cyberwarfare, and hybrid threats.

It is hard not to be moved by this vision. Especially at a time when Israel has paid dearly for its innovation edge – from the drone and missile barrages of the Iran war to the daily grind of defending the citizens from terrorist proxies and asymmetric threats. Israel has held the line. Now, Israel needs friends who do more than help it survive; it needs partners who will help it thrive.

Enter Zach Nunn.

For some of us, his voice has long been a clarion call. This is a man who has stood with Israel through dark days, when doing so came at a political cost. He led the charge to freeze Iranian assets used by Hamas and Hezbollah. He pushed for full funding of Iron Dome and David’s Sling. He fought for American citizens trapped in Israel during wartime evacuations – even when the State Department under the Biden administration faltered. And now, with this proposal, he is not only supporting Israel, he is also betting on Israel’s innovation.

And he is not wrong.

From every corner of Israel’s tech ecosystem like defense, health, space, biotech, and cyber, Israel continues to astonish. At the 2025 Jerusalem Post Diplomatic Conference, Sequoia Capital’s Shaun Maguire put it beautifully: “Israel is on the front lines defending Western values and democracy.” He added, “My goal is for Israel to develop a homegrown trillion-dollar company in the next ten years.”

And why not?

With the right partnerships, funding pipelines, and international confidence – like what Nunn’s DIU hub would unlock – Israel can build not only elite tech firms but also a self-sufficient national defense posture that no longer depends on foreign whims. That is resilience. That is sovereignty.

Think about the symbolism here. Amid a Biden administration that withheld weapons during Israel’s war for survival, here is a United States Congressman saying: let us deepen our cooperation, not stall it. Let us empower Israel’s defense sector, not second-guess it. Let us innovate together, not apologize together.

This is the spirit of renewal that Israel needs; it is the spirit that Israel deserves.

Of course, the bill still needs to pass the Senate. And the final version of the NDAA (defense budget) could shift. But even if the proposal takes time, the idea is now alive. It is out there. It is on record. And it is being championed not by a media-hungry headline-seeker, but by a thoughtful, principled patriot from Iowa who understands what is at stake for Israel, and for America.

As someone who writes frequently about Israel’s defense innovation, I can say this with confidence: if the DIU field office becomes reality, it will be both a feather in Israel’s innovation cap, and a resounding affirmation of United States–Israel strategic alignment. That Israel is not a client state. Not a fragile dependency. But a trailblazing tech nation that is earning, every day, its place among the great powers of the 21st century.

To Congressman Nunn, I say: well done. Well done for your clarity, your courage and, above all, your unwavering confidence in Israel.

Let us hope the Senate shares it.