Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/israel-wants-syrias-assad-gone Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Israel wants Syria's Assad "gone" Nation Sep 17, 2013 9:45 AM EST Getty Images Israel's Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren said in an exit interview with the Jerusalem Post that Israel has wanted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to leave office since the start of the country's civil war. "The initial message about the Syrian issue was that we always wanted [President] Bashar Assad to go, we always preferred the bad guys who weren't backed by Iran to the bad guys who were backed by Iran," he said. The remarks marked a public shift in Israel's stance. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had avoided publicly calling for the removal of the Syrian president since the conflict began more than two years ago. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now
Getty Images Israel's Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren said in an exit interview with the Jerusalem Post that Israel has wanted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to leave office since the start of the country's civil war. "The initial message about the Syrian issue was that we always wanted [President] Bashar Assad to go, we always preferred the bad guys who weren't backed by Iran to the bad guys who were backed by Iran," he said. The remarks marked a public shift in Israel's stance. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had avoided publicly calling for the removal of the Syrian president since the conflict began more than two years ago. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now