Deputy foreign minister Danny Ayalon. Photo: Shahar Azran.

Russia and China both vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for the resignation of Syrian President Bashar Assad, even though more than 5,000 people have been killed in the 10 months since clashes between the government and protesters began, reported Voice of America and the Chicago Tribune.

Furthermore, Russia has been supplying Syria with weapons for years, despite anger on the part of the United States and Israel. Israeli deputy foreign minister Danny Ayalon told Reuters last week that Assad is not really pressured into resigning because Syria continues, “to get material financial and military help from the Ayatollahs in Iran and Hezbollah.”

“Unfortunately he can stay for a long time, although he lost his legitimacy and sometimes at the end he will fall, but it may be a long and bloody process,” Ayalon also said.