Israel's Peretz selects anti-rocket defense system

Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz on Thursday decided to select Israel's Rafael, or Armament Development Authority, to design and develop anti-missile defense system for intercepting short-range missiles such as Qassam and Katyusha rockets, local Ha'aretz said.

Peretz convened a meeting on Thursday with senior officials from the Defense Ministry along with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)' top echelon for a final discussion regarding the selection of an anti-missile defense system.

During the meeting, a special committee presented the defense minister its reports regarding four relevant defense systems available, rating them in categories such as advancement and cost.

Peretz finally selected the Rafael's "iron dome" defense system, which is meant to block missiles with a range of up to several dozens of kilometers.

"Israel requires an additional security layer for the home front that will allow for more political freedom and provide more security for the population," Peretz was quoted as saying.

During the Lebanon war last summer, Hezbollah guerillas pelted Israel with nearly 4,000 rockets, many of them Katyushas. Meanwhile, Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip regularly fire Qassam rockets at western Negev communities.

Meanwhile, two Qassam rockets fired from the northern Gaza on Thursday landed in Sderot. No injuries or damage were reported.

Source: Xinhua