(missiles firing)
- [Chris] In just over a week,
close to 4,000 rockets haveforced some 4 million Israelis
into bomb shelters.
As they seek cover, an aerialbattle takes place in the sky
with Israel's Iron Dome,
providing an amazing layer of protection.
Behind me is one
of the many Iron Domeanti-missile systems here
in South and Central Israel.
During the conflict with Hamasand other terrorist groups,
the Iron Dome has shot down more than 90%
of the rockets comingout of the Gaza strip.
- Imagine yourself that those 90% rockets
that were intercepted wouldbe falling into our city.
- [Chris] CBS News metone of the men responsible
for creating this technological marvel,
Ret. General Doron Gavish.
Through cooperation andfunding from the US,
Israel developed theanti-missile system 10 years ago.
It's the technological equivalent
of a bullet hitting a bullet.
- 10 years ago, it was only the beginning.
We had to kind of invent the wheel
because there is noother place in the world
that something like this is going on.
- [Chris] This viral picture,
literally seen round theworld captured the essence
of the Iron Dome.
On the right side, you seerockets fired from Gaza.
Then on the left side,Iron Dome shoots them down.
- You see, first of all,the willingness of the Hamas
to throw rockets into our cities,
this is something I'm tolerable,
and this is somethingthat we cannot accept.
I think, neither us and neitherany democracy in the world.
- CBS News experienced theeffectiveness of the Iron Dome,
when we took shelter from a rocket attack
and heard the Iron Domeintercept two missiles overhead.
(missile fires)
General Gavish sees it as a true lifesaver
on both sides of the fight.
Many believe without Iron Dome,
Israel would have beenforced into a ground war
with potentially massive casualties.
- By the end of the day,we could look in the mirror
and we could say, "We did something
for the defense of Israel.
We did something for ourcivilians and we're saving life."
And this is what the elephant is doing.
- Chris Mitchell at an IronDome anti-missile battery,
Central Israel.
