> Israel test-fires missile to intercept Gaza rockets
> Sun Mar 16, 4:05 PM ET
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> JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israel last week test-fired a missile capable of
> intercepting short-range rockets like those fired by Palestinian militants
> from the Gaza Strip, Channel 10 television reported Sunday.
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> "This weapons system will be operational in 2010," said General Dany
> Gotlib, who is in charge of research at the Israeli defence ministry.
> Television showed pictures of the test-firing which it said took place in
> southern Israel.
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> In December the Israeli government earmarked more than 200 million dollars
> (140 million euros) for the development of an advanced defence system dubbed
> "Iron Dome" aimed at countering rocket fire from Gaza and Lebanon.
>
> Israel's Rafael Advanced Defence Systems arms firm is developing the system
> which is capable of knocking down rockets with a range from 4-70 kilometres
> (2.5-43.4 miles), such as the homemade Qassam used by Palestinian militants.
>
> Iron Dome is part of a multi-layered defence system aimed at protecting
> Israel from short-range missiles and rockets fired by militants in Gaza or
> Lebanon, and longer-range missiles in the arsenals of regional foes Iran and
> Syria.
>
> The Israeli army has had little success in ending the nearly daily rocket
> fire from the Gaza Strip, which has killed 14 people in southern Israel
> since the start of the second Palestinian uprising in September 2000.
>
> http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080316/wl_mideast_afp/mideastconflictisraelweapons
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