[Al Ahram] Israel deployed its Iron Dome missile defence system near Jerusalem Sunday, an AFP correspondent said, as the United States lobbied for domestic and international support for military strikes against Syria.The correspondent said the battery was set up west of the city.
A military spokeswoman would not comment on the deployment, saying only that "defence systems are deployed in accordance with situation assessments".
Late last month a battery of the mobile system was set up in the greater Tel Aviv area, pointing northwards towards Syria. Israeli media have reported that six or seven such batteries are currently in use.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Israel "an island of tranquillity, quiet and security" amidst "the storm raging around us", without explicitly mentioning Syria or its ally Iran.
In previous weeks Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel was not involved in the war in Syria, but would "respond with force" if anyone attacked it.