Israel wants US missile defence to protect communities from Gaza attacks

Occupied Jerusalem: Defence Minister Ehud Barak wants to buy a US missile defence system to protect Israeli communities from rockets and mortars fired from Gaza.

Defence officials say the Vulcan-Phalanx cannon and radar will be part of a multilayer defence system that will include Israel's Iron Dome system and two other missile defences being developed in conjunction with the United States.

Officials said when Barak visits Washington in June he plans to ask US Defence Secretary Robert Gates to sell Israel at least one of the Vulcan-Phalanx systems.