Israeli ambassador to the US

Speaking at an Al-Monitor breakfast on April 14 in Washington DC, Israeli Ambassador the the US Michael Herzog commented on the Palestinian political process, escalating violence at Jerusalem’s holy sites, Israel’s relations with Gulf states and more.

Herzog: Delisting IRGC as terror group would send "terribly wrong message"

“Since the IRGC is on the terror list, delisting it now as part of a nuclear deal sends a terribly wrong message to our part of the world,” Herzog, who previously served as a general in the Israel Defense Forces, said. “I think it’s no coincidence that [Iran] insists and they define it as a red line that they want to delist the IRGC.”

As talks to salvage the Iran nuclear deal, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), are stalled, one of the main sticking points has been Tehran's demand that Washington drop the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a powerful branch of Iran’s military, from its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO). 

Herzog also stressed the importance for Washington and Riyadh to fix ties.

“It is important in my view to fix relations between the US and Saudi Arabia," Herzog said during the discussion hosted by Al-Monitor president Andrew Parasiliti. 

“I understand the US concerns, but I think Saudi Arabia is a hugely important actor in our part of the world and the Islamic world,” a reflection of the changed Middle East since the Abraham Accords opened diplomatic relations between Israel and a number of Arab states (though not yet Saudi Arabia).