Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni on Friday, May 17, criticized Russia for sending arms to the Syrian regime, stating that "the transfer of arms to Syria is clearly not positive and does not contribute to the stability of the region."

"Israel has the right to defend itself," Livni said, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly urged Russian President Vladimir Putin in a summit in Sochi on Tuesday not to sell the state-of-the-art S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Syria.