TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- The Israeli security cabinet approved $206 million Sunday for the "Iron Dome" missile system designed to intercept short- and medium-range rockets.
The system is expected to take about 5 years to develop, though an operational version could be deployed in Sderot, a town 1 kilometer from the Gaza Strip that is the frequent target of Hamas Qassam rockets, Haaretz reported.
Once complete, Iron Dome, which is being developed by Rafael, the national military technology authority, would detect rocket launches, then immediately send faster rockets to intercept and destroy them at high altitude.
If it works as planned, it could help open the way for Israel to hand over the West Bank, since Defense Minister Ehud Barak has said withdrawal is impossible without a way to defend against rocket attacks.
Defense ministry officials chose Iron Dome from a field of 14 proposals earlier this year.
