Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel deployed its Iron Dome missile defence system to bolster its security as the West weighed military strikes on neighbouring Syria.
But he echoed President Shimon Peres in insisting that Israel is not involved in Syria's civil war but will respond with all its might if attacked.
"At present there is no need to change daily routines,” Netanyahu reassured and added, “Despite the low assessment regarding Israel's involvement in what is going on in Syria, we decided to deploy Iron Dome batteries as well as our other intercept systems,’’ he said in a statement released by his office, ahead of holding security talks at the defence ministry.
The other intercept systems include the Patriot and the Arrow systems, meant to intercept midrange and longer-range missiles.
The Iron Dome, also known as “Iron Cap” is a mobile all-weather air defense system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. It is a missile system designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from distances of 4 to 70 kilometres away and whose trajectory would take them to a populated area.
"We are not involved in the war in Syria. But I repeat: if anyone tries to harm Israeli citizens, Tsahal (the Israel Defense Forces, IDF) will respond with force," Netanyahu said in other remarks broadcast by Israeli television.
His comments come as Britain and the United States laid out their case for punitive strikes on Syria over an alleged chemical attack last week that rights groups say killed hundreds.
Earlier President Peres addressed the tensions with Syria at the beginning of his visit to the Jerusalem headquarters of the Israel Police and said, “The situation in Syria is not a local incident but a crime against humanity and a breach of international law. As such the responsible world is coming together to respond. Syria has crossed a moral boundary. The whole world was witness to the horrific pictures of Syrian children who lay dead on the floor. President Obama spoke on behalf of the whole of humanity when he said this breach of international law; this mass murder could not go without an appropriate response.’’
He added:‘’We must understand that the response is global, not local. We are seeing a serious coalition coming together, both militarily and diplomatically. Israel was not, and is not, involved in the Syrian fighting but if anyone tries to harm us we will respond with all our might.’’
He continued: ‘’Israel has a strong army, modern and powerful and a more advanced defense system than ever before which protects our land, our skies and our citizens. The reports aimed at Israel are an attempt to create panic but Israel is too experienced to fall for false propaganda. We must remain united, respect the decisions of the government and act upon the instructions of the Home Front Command. We should all have faith in the IDF.”
The IDF chief of staff Lieutenant General Benny Gantz said his forces were "ready for all scenarios," but added: "I hope we will not have to send them into action."
Israeli media and officials sought to calm the public on Thursday, as queues for gas masks lengthened.
There are fears that it the United States and its allies launch military strikes on Syria, forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad could retaliate against Israel.
"Keep calm and carry on" was the title of a front-page analysis in the Jerusalem Post.
"With (Israeli) military intelligence keeping more eyes and ears open to enemy activity than ever before, the combination of Israel's firepower and accurate intelligence would spell very bad news for the Assad regime should it choose to target Israel in response to an attack on Syria by the United States," the Post wrote.
"Doing so would likely sign his regime's death certificate."
On Wednesday, Netanyahu's security cabinet authorised a limited call-up of reservists, but Netanyahu said members of the public had "no reason to change their routines."
Haaretz daily newspaper said those to be called up numbered "a few hundred" personnel considered vital, including members of missile defence, air force, intelligence and civil defence units.
"We need to make preparations but also to go about our daily lives," Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon said on Wednesday.
He said that Israel was not involved in the civil war in Syria and that the Western world, led by the United States, was dealing with the issue of Syria’s use of chemical weapons, not Israel.
But he added that Israel was “taking appropriate steps” in preparation and that it was doing so “judiciously and responsibly” so as not to cause panic or any escalation of the tensions.
News website Ynet reported on Thursday that "hundreds" of people were waiting outside a gas mask distribution centre in central Tel Aviv before it opened, and public radio said "thousands" were queueing at a distribution site in the northern city of Haifa.
The kits were first distributed during the 1991 Gulf War over Kuwait when Saddam Hussein's Iraq fired Scud missiles at Israel as the US-led coalition launched Operation Desert Storm.
The kits also contain syringes of the anti-nerve gas agent atropine for self-injection.