In a briefing on Jan. 20, Netanyahu cited the Iron Dome rocket defense
system, designed to intercept missiles and rockets with a range of up to 70
kilometers, Middle East Newsline reported. He said Iron Dome, reported to have been successful in live-fire
tests, would not provide hermetic protection.
"Even if we put an Iron Dome, we'll have rockets fired at us," Netanyahu
said. "The problem is to prevent them from being placed on our borders."
In 2010, Israel's military plans to deploy its first Iron Dome battery.
In all, the Defense Ministry intends to fund the assembly of seven such
systems, which also contain early-warning radar.
Officials said Israel faces an unprecedented missile and rocket threat.
They said more than 12,000 missiles and rockets have been fired into Israel
from Lebanon and the Gaza Strip over the last three years, more than that
sustained by Britain during World War II.
Netanyahu's approach has been disputed by Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
Barak has linked Israel's withdrawal from the West Bank to the development
of an effective missile and rocket defense capability.
In contrast, the prime minister has asserted that Israel would require a
permanent presence in parts of the West Bank. Netanyahu has pledged to
maintain at least two blocs of Jewish communities in the area.
"There are thousands, tens of thousands of short-range rockets and other
projectiles that are far from contiguous territory," Netanyahu said. "And
therefor in addition to defensive means, we also must ensure that in that
entry to the contiguous areas next to Israel, there is a way to effectively
stop the infiltration of rockets and other weaponry."
