Netanyahu: Labeling the IRGC as Terrorist was Trump's Positive Response to My Request

Moments after the official announcement by Donald Trump's government labeling the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as 'terrorist' on Monday, April 8, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Israel, warmly thanked the U.S. President for this decision and considered it a positive response from Donald Trump to his request. Netanyahu stated in a message to Trump: 'My dear friend, acceptance of another important request of mine is in line with the mutual interests of our two countries and other countries in the region.' He added that Israel and the U.S. 'are acting together on all fronts to confront Iran, a regime that threatens the state of Israel.' According to reports from Ynet, Israel Katz, the acting Foreign Minister of Israel, also expressed gratitude to Trump, saying: 'This decision weakens Iran's ability to advance its nuclear program and support terrorism in the region.' The U.S. government has yet to confirm Netanyahu's statement that the designation of the IRGC as 'terrorist' was the result of another request from the Israeli Prime Minister to the U.S. President. Israel has long viewed the IRGC as the main arm of the Islamic Republic in its hostility towards its existence. Two months ago, Netanyahu had warned the IRGC that if it attacked Israel, the anniversary of the revolution (which had recently taken place) would be 'the last celebration of the Iranian revolution.' Israeli leaders have expressed satisfaction with the U.S. government's action in labeling the IRGC as 'terrorist' just one day before Israel's parliamentary elections, which are set to take place on Tuesday, April 9. Before Netanyahu confirmed that the designation of the IRGC as 'terrorist' was his personal request to Trump, some analysts in Israeli media special programs the night before the elections did not consider the timing of the U.S. government's decision to be coincidental with the Israeli elections. Experts from the state-run 'Kan' network and Channel 12 of Israeli television referred to Trump's decision as a result of continued coordination between Benjamin Netanyahu and the U.S. President. Meanwhile, Channel 12 of Israeli television reported that recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights were two other significant gifts from Donald Trump to the Israeli government, which hold greater strategic importance for this allied country.