Israel's security cabinet authorised funding on Sunday for the development of a 207-million-dollar project aimed at providing a defence against short- and medium-range rockets, Israeli media reported. The "Iron Dome" system could be operational within two and a half years, Defence Minister Ehud Barak said.
Using a combination of radar and the "Colour Red" alarm system, the Iron Dome is designed to locate a rocket within seconds of its launch.
Palestinian militants entrenched in the Gaza Strip have launched thousands of makeshift short-range Qassam rockets at Israel since January 2001, causing few casualties and relatively little damage, but traumatising the inhabitants of the towns and villages within range of the projectiles.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Barak are coming under growing pressure to authorise the Israeli army to launch a wide-ranging operation in the Gaza Strip to end the missile fire.