Syrian civilians hurt in chemical weapons attack in Kafr Zita
Photo: AP
Israel co-sponsors Saudi resolution against Syria
In a first, Israel joins Saudi Arabia, US, France and Germany in submitting draft resolution against the Assad regime at the UN Human Rights Council; Syrian representative says Israel co-sponsoring resolution was demonstration of secret alliance between Jerusalem and Riyadh.
Israel co-sponsored a Saudi resolution against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad at the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday for the first time.
The resolution passed; with 108 countries voting in favor, 17 against and 58 abstaining.
Israel has in the past supported similar resolutions, including those submitted by Saudi Arabia, but has never co-sponsored such a resolution alongside Riyadh.
Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon (Photo: AP)
The Saudi ambassador began the discussion on the resolution by accusing the Assad regime of the murder of innocent people, condemning "the grave deterioration in the state of human rights in Syria, including indiscriminate killing and intentional attacks against civilians, which caused the death of over 400,000 people, including 17,000 children."
The list of state sponsors was then read out, including Israel, prompting the Syrian ambassador to attack Saudi Arabia.
Children hurt in chemical weapons attack in Idlib (Photo: AFP)
The Syrian representative congratulated his Saudi counterpart for the fact Israel had joined the list of co-sponsors, saying it was a demonstration of the secret alliance between the two countries.
Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said in response that "The Assad regime, with full support from Iran, has been slaughtering its people mercilessly and with incomprehensible cruelty for years. Israel, which for years has been providing humanitarian aid to Syrian civilians hurt by these atrocities, stands together with the international community against this murderous regime."
