Israel launched on Sunday a national civil defense drill, which the army said will this year focus on the threat of unconventional weapons at a time of growing regional tensions.

"The threats against the Israeli home front have significantly increased in recent years," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the beginning of the weekly cabinet meeting in remarks relayed by his office.

Israeli President Shimon Peres said on Sunday that time should not be wasted in the search for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, calling it "a real possibility".

"Two points are urgent: we shouldn't lose the opportunity because it will he replaced by great disappointment," Peres told reporters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the banks of the Dead Sea in Jordan.

Peace between Israelis and Palestinians is "still possible", Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas said on Saturday, hailing U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's efforts to revive stalled talks.

In a speech to the World Economic Forum in the town of Al-Shunah on the banks of the Dead Sea in Jordan, Abbas called on Israel to "end the occupation of our lands", evacuate settlements and free Palestinian prisoners.

Israel on Saturday accused Syrian forces of trying to provoke conflict as the two sides rowed over responsibility for a border clash.

Tensions around Golan Heights ceasefire zone between the two rivals have escalated since Syrian forces fired across the U.N.-patrolled ceasefire line and hit an Israeli military vehicle on Tuesday.

Israel on Saturday accused Syrian forces of trying to provoke conflict as the two sides rowed over responsibility for a border clash.

Tensions around Golan Heights ceasefire zone between the two rivals have escalated since Syrian forces fired across the U.N.-patrolled ceasefire line and hit an Israeli military vehicle on Tuesday.

An organization calling itself the "Syrian Electronic Army" has launched a cyber attack against the water distribution system of Haifa, Israel's third largest city, an expert said on Saturday.

The attack "by this organization which we don't know exactly who is behind" was carried out two weeks ago and failed, said Professor Yitzhak Ben-Israel, head of Israel's National Council for Research and Development, quoted on Israeli radio.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani warned on Liberation Day that Israel would take in its advantage the increasing local disputes.

“On May 25, 2000 Lebanon registered its first real victory against the Jewish state,” Qabbani said in a statement on Saturday.

Peace between Israelis and Palestinians is "still possible,” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday, hailing U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's efforts to revive stalled talks.

In a speech to the World Economic Forum in the town of al-Shunah on the banks of the Dead Sea in Jordan, Abbas called on Israel to "end the occupation of our lands,” evacuate settlements and free Palestinian prisoners.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati hoped on Saturday that the 13th anniversary of the liberation of the south would unify the Lebanese and consolidate the authority of the state.

In a statement issued by his press office, Miqati said Liberation Day should “become an incentive for consolidating national unity because it is the only measure to strengthen the authority of the state.”

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders on Friday to take "hard decisions" to revive the Middle East peace process, which has stalled for almost three years.

Kerry has been pressing Israel and the Palestinians to resume direct peace talks that broke down in September 2010, notably over the issue of Jewish settlement building.