Missile defense systems for planes

Israel's security cabinet deliberated the funding of a missile defense system toprotect the country's commercial airlines. While no details of the cabinet meeting on Sunday were released to the media, an official said all Israeli planes will be equippedwith a defense system in the near future. Cabinet members discussed the missile threat and a budget for the system which will be integrated into the Defense Ministry's budget, officials said. Some El Al planes have already been equipped with such a system. Previous Israeli government approved fitting out planes witha missile defense system following a missile attack on an Arkia Israel Airlines plane in Mombasa Kenya in 2002. The pilots spotted the missiles fired at the plane shortly after takeoff and succeeded in avoiding them and continued the flight to Israel.