The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Monday praised the United States’ decision to close its embassy in Damascus, saying that the step "sends a strong signal that the ongoing brutal repression of the Syrian people is unacceptable, that the Assad regime no longer has credibility and that Syria is becoming a pariah among nations."
In a statement, Robert G. Sugarman, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, stressed that the situation in Syria is deteriorating by the day and that the reports of continuing civilian casualties, mass arrests and torture of political dissidents "are profoundly disturbing."
"It is vital that the international community stands united against the violence in Syria and works toward preventing the further killing of civilians," they said.
"We are disappointed that the United Nations has been unable to deal with the issue. The inability of the U.N. Security Council to pass a resolution backing the Arab League peace plan for Syria, a proposal which was vetoed by China and Russia, is just the latest failure of the U.N. to address a serious humanitarian crisis."
"We express our appreciation to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice for vigorously working to ensure a united international front to stop the Syrian regime from committing further atrocities," they added.