Syria's Defense Minister Ali Habib called on Syrian forces to increase their readiness for battle, in the wake of the "unprecedented racist actions by the Zionist enterprise, which is worrying to the whole world." He added that the current stage of history was more dangerous than any previous one, and that Syria "must be prepared for the challenges it faces."

Meanwhile, in a meeting with President Shimon Peres Monday, EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana said that his impression, after meeting with Syrian officials Sunday, was that Damascus was interested in restarting indirect negotiations with Israel via Turkey. Peres responded by saying that if Syrian President Bashar Assad was interested in talking peace, he should talk directly with Israel, instead of through intermediators.