Israel’s President Shimon Peres called on his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Al-Assad, to step down, pointing to Assad's forces in the violent killing 2000 civilians and detention tens of thousands during the four-month demonstrations against the ruling regime.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Peres told Fox News that the faster Al-Assad leaves the better it is for his people.

Peres said that a change in the Syrian regime can pave the way for a Syrian-Israeli peace treaty, adding that those who want peace in Syria must raise their voice.

This is the first time for Peres to proclaim his position concerning the situation in Syria, as the president only holds a symbolic position in Israel and is traditionally reluctant to express his political views, according to Fox News.

Fox News pointed out that Peres’s statement came a few days after the Al-Arabiya TV Network exclusive interview with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wherein he appeared to be more diplomatic with regards to the situation in Syria, carefully stating that the youth in Syria deserve a better future and that only the Syrian people should decide who is to lead Syria.