Israel signs deals to boost domestic weapons production

JERUSALEM, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday it has signed deals worth about 1 billion shekels (276 million U.S. dollars) with defense contractor Elbit Systems to boost domestic arms production amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The agreements include the supply of thousands of heavy air munitions and the establishment of a national plant to produce raw materials for the defense i