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Bullet-Proof Baby Seat Latest in Security

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Palestinian suicide attacks, shooting ambushes and car bombings have underscored the old adage that necessity is the mother of invention -- at least in Israel 20 months into a Palestinian uprising against occupation.


Bullet-proof baby car seats, cameras that detect potential explosives planted in public places and robots that x-ray bombs were among the latest in gadgetry on display at Israel's annual Security and Defense Exhibition in Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

But missing this year were the thousands of foreign security experts who normally flock to the conference to learn about the latest in high-tech security wizardry.

"They are concerned about Palestinian terror attacks," said conference organizer Lior Caspi.

A wave of Palestinian suicide bombings on buses, city streets and cafes deterred some of the hardiest anti-terror experts from visiting Israel for the conference. Only about 500 showed up compared to 3,000 attendees in previous years.

The conference organizers were forced to offer free insurance to convince the normally unruffled security experts to make the journey to Tel Aviv as many insurance companies in the United States and Europe refused to cover them, Caspi said.

Many of the devices on display were designed with the Israeli market in mind as there are not too many countries in the world with a demand for bullet-proof car seats for babies.

The Israeli armory company Kata recently added the car seat to its product range. It consists of bullet-proof panels built around a regular baby's car seat and weighs about 70 pounds.

"It doesn't give maximum protection, but it does protect the baby's head and its body from the side and back," said Kata salesman Tamir Yoeli.

The car seat which sells for $2,000 is intended for Jewish settlers who have been targeted by Palestinian gunmen as they drive along West Bank roads since the Palestinian revolt began in September 2000 after peace talks deadlocked.

In a post-September 11 world where security has become paramount, Nice Systems has invented a computer-camera device that locates suspicious objects left behind in airports, train stations and other public areas.

The device also alerts guards if a car stops outside an embassy or airport for too long.

Bomb squad sappers no longer have to sweat over whether to cut the red wire or the green wire if they use an x-ray device fitted to a robot which gives an x-ray of the bomb, showing the wiring and type of explosive used.

The device was invented with the input of Israeli sappers who detonate dozens of suspected bombs every day.

Another entrepreneur provides sniffer dogs to protect restaurants, cafes and shopping malls from suicide bombers.

"The dogs are taught to sniff for explosives. If they smell explosives, they send a signal to the handler," said Maavarim company owner, Reuven Israel, who used to head the Israeli police's bomb-sniffing dog unit.

Maavarim has 12 operational dogs including a fierce-looking Alsatian, a young Labrador and a small mixed-breed dog that is able to poke his nose into nooks and crannies. When the dogs smell explosives they sit facing the bomb.

"I am endangering the lives of the dogs and the handlers. But one thing is for sure, the bomber won't get inside the restaurant," said Israel.

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