The first intifada 1987-1993, dubbed the "war of stones", pitted Palestinian youths throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails against Israeli soldiers firing rubber-coated bullets and a vehicle-mounted device spewing gravel.

The second intifada, which started in September 2000, quickly turned into a fully fledged armed confrontation and has spurred the Israeli army into developing an impressive array of technical innovations.

The conference held in Tel Aviv was an opportunity for the Israeli Defence Forces to showcase its latest gadgets, which have become a driving force of the Jewish state's ailing economy.

One of the show's star features was Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI)'s new generation of unmanned planes.

According to the Israeli press, it was one of these surveillance drones that framed Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in Gaza City last Monday, and allowed an Israeli helicopter a long enough window to fire a missile at the Hamas spiritual leader.

The pictures these tiny stealth devices can take are sent to Israeli troops operating on the ground through a real-time feed.

IAI's new-born "Mosquito" weighs little more than a pound (500 grammes) thanks to its kevlar and carbon-fiber components, and is equipped with a tiny camera.

It has a one-hour autonomy, a range of a mile (less than two kilometres) and can be launched and guided by an infantry soldier on the ground through a palm pilot that receives live images of the combat zone, enabling troops to monitor it while maintaining cover.

One of the other spectacular innovations displayed by the Israeli military industry is the Rephaim system, which means "ghost" in Hebrew.

It comprises a sighted system which can be attached to an American M16 assault rifle or the Tavor, its new Israeli competitor.

The laser-sighted system can release a grenade fired by the rifle from the required distance and at the optimal moment.

Another of the Phantom's features is a disposable camera, specially adapted to support an anti-tank grenade which can be fired in the same manner as an assault rifle.

During the brief time it is in the air, it transmits images to foot soldiers of areas that escape their field of vision on a palm pilot.

The "Rephaim" is considered particularly effective in urban combat.

The IAI has also devised a bizarre-looking rapid reaction vehicle.

This totally mechanised light armour-plated vehicle can be dispatched from a command post to investigate any attempt to infiltrate an area which is protected by a security fence.

The attendants at the stand where the "Guardium" was on display said they had been instructed to say as little as possible about the system and instead limited themselves to inviting visitors to read a brief brochure and look at a short promotional video.

Electronic sensors placed on the fence can trigger an alarm.

The robotic vehicles, equiped with both firearms and cameras, are programmed to travel at speeds of between 80 kilometres (50 miles) and 120 kilometers per hour towards the danger area by an extremely powerful engine.

Once in place, piloted by remote control, they can make contact and engage in combat with the assailant.

Military delegates from no less than 36 European, Asian, and north and south American countries travelled to Tel Aviv to attend the conference and arms exhibition organised by the Israeli army.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2003 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.

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