Tel Aviv, Feb. 23 -- Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the demilitarization of southern Syria and protection for its Druze community on Sunday, the first time he has publicly called for this since the collapse of Bashar Assad's regime in December.

"We demand the full demilitarization of southern Syria," said Netanyahu, who was addressing a graduation ceremony for cadet officers in Beer-Sheva. "We will not tolerate any threat to the Druze community in southern Syria."

Netanyahu also held up a photo of Shiri Bibas and her sons, Ariel and Kfir whose remains were recently returned to Israel. Forensics experts who examined the bodies said they had been murdered, and that there was no evidence to back Hamas claims they were ...