“Quiet will be met with quiet; fire will be met with fire.”
-- IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz
More than 200 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip, and struck major population centers in southern Israel in the last 103 hours. More than 1,000,000 Israelis are under the threat of rocket fire.
Wikipedia:
The Iron Dome has successfully intercepted at least 56 rockets out of 73 directed at densely populated regions.
And in case you hear otherwise...
The funding and development of the Iron Dome system was provided and undertaken solely by Israel.
In 2007 Israel commissioned the development of Iron Dome, choosing Israeli contractor Rafaelover the American giant Lockheed Martin. Israeli company mPrest Systems was put in charge of programming the core of Iron Dome’s battle management system.
Iron Dome went from the drawing board to combat readiness within less than four years, a remarkably short period of time for a weapons system designed from scratch...
"New Israeli anti-missile system sees success in Gaza, altering war against rockets". The Washington Post. Associated Press. 10 April 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
Entous, Adam; Caren Bohan (13 May 2010). "Obama seeks $205 million for Israel rocket shield". Reuters.
In May 2010, the White House announced that U.S. President Barack Obama would seek $205 million from U.S. Congress in his 2011 budget, to spur the production and deployment of additional Iron Dome batteries.
White House spokesman Tommy Vietor stated, "The president recognizes the threat missiles and rockets fired by Hamas and Hezbollah pose to Israelis, and has therefore decided to seek funding from Congress to support the production of Israel's short range rocket defense system called Iron Dome."
This would be the first direct U.S. investment in the project. Such financial assistance could expedite the completion of the defensive system, which has long been delayed by budgetary shortfalls.
Amos Harel (13 May 2010). "Iron Dome defense system gets new backer: Barack Obama". Haaretz.
A few days later, on 20 May 2010, the U.S. House. Representatives approved the funding in a 410–4 vote.
JPost.com staff and Hilary Leila Krieger (21 May 2010). "US approves $205m. for Iron Dome".
The Jerusalem Post."United States-Israel Missile Defense Cooperation and Support Act". Library of Congress.
This money was expected to be included in the 2011 budget. Once the money is received ... it will still take a further 18 months before the additional batteries are delivered to the air force.
Katz, Yaakov; JPost.com Staff (04/10/2011). "IDF conditionally ceases air strikes on Hamas targets". The Jerusalem Post.
On 9 May 2011, Haaretz published that Defense Ministry director general Maj. Gen. (res.) Udi Shani said that Israel plans to invest nearly $1 billion in the coming years for the development and production of Iron Dome batteries. ".... We are talking about [having] 10–15 Iron Dome batteries. We will invest nearly $1 billion on this. This is the goal, in addition to the $205 million that the U.S. government has authorized," Shani said.
Harel, Amos (9 May 2011). "Israel to invest $1 billion in Iron Dome missile defense system". Haaretz. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
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