Israel calls for resignation of Syria's Assad

Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Ya’alon has reportedly called for the resignation of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. According to Monday reports by Israeli media, Ya’alon said there was no doubt that Assad must step down. The Israeli call for the resignation of the Syrian president comes as the United States and a number of other Western countries including the UK and France and countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey have supported measures against the Damascus government. On February 4, the United Nations Security Council met to vote on a Western-backed draft resolution that supported an Arab League plan for the unrest in Syria. The draft initially called on Assad to resign and transfer power to a deputy. However, Russia and China vetoed the draft resolution and rejected it as “unbalanced.” Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Sunday that Ankara supports supplying arms to rebels in Syria fighting against the Assad government. Saudi Arabia and Qatar have also voiced support for the rebels in Syria. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani said on February 27 that the “international community” should provide arms to the Syrian rebels and that “Arab countries should take the lead in providing a safe haven for rebels inside Syria.” The remarks by Ya’alon come as the Israeli foreign ministry spokesman claimed on Sunday that Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has ordered the head of the ministry’s international organizations branch to “offer the International Red Cross humanitarian aid to Syria.” Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011, with demonstrations being held both against and in favor of the Damascus government. Syrians have repeatedly expressed support for the president over the past weeks. President Assad has endorsed a newly drafted constitution that was put to vote in a February 26 referendum and won the overwhelming support of Syrian voters. The Syrian president said on February 20 that “some foreign countries” are fueling the year-long turmoil in Syria by supporting and funding “armed terrorist groups fighting against the government.”