1. What is the Israeli military's purpose for deploying Israel's new anti-rocket system, the Iron Dome near Beersheba?

2. a) Why did the military deploy the Iron Dome more quickly than they wanted to?
b) Why didn't the air force want to deploy the Iron Dome as soon as they did?

3. a) Approximately how many rockets have Hamas militants fired into Israel over the past two weeks from the Gaza Strip?
b) Do you think the militants shooting the rockets are concerned about possibly killing Israeli civilians? Explain your answer.

4. How does the Iron Dome work? (What is it designed to do?)

5. Why has the threat to Israeli civilians from Palestinian rockets grown over the years?

6. Why does Israeli Brig.-General Gavish say the Iron Dome is worth the cost ($50 million to build per battery, and $25,000 for each rocket intercepted)?

7. How do Israelis' views on the Iron Dome differ?

8. Look at the map of Israel under "Resources" below, and find Beersheba and Ashkelon in relation to the Gaza Strip. If you lived in either of those cities, how would you view the deployment of the Iron Dome?