Supporter of Israel, opponent of Iran: Senator Lindsey Graham has passed away

● The US is at a dangerous crossroads: the economic situation is pushing America to the brink
● Rubio vs. Vance: The fight for the 2028 presidency has begun in the Middle East

His political story also included one of the most surprising turns in Washington. During the Republican primaries in 2015, Graham was among Donald Trump’s fiercest critics. He warned that the Republican Party will not be able to win if Trump is nominated for the presidency, and even said that if the Republicans elect him, “we will be destroyed, and we deserve it.” At the time, he called Trump an “inciting racist, xenophobe and religious fanatic.” However, after Trump’s victory in the elections, a close personal relationship developed between the two. Graham became one of the closest people to the president in Congress, served as his permanent address for consultations on security and foreign policy issues, and was one of the most prominent figures who defended him in both impeachment proceedings and during the series of investigations conducted against him. The two also often played golf together, and Trump often described Graham as a personal friend and confidant.

After news of his death became known, President Trump wrote that “America has lost a true patriot.” He also said it was “very sad”, and that he would soon update on the details of the funeral, which shows that it is important for the president to be involved in his friend’s funeral arrangements.

For Israel, Graham was much more than just a US senator. For years he was considered one of Jerusalem’s closest and most consistent allies on Capitol Hill. He supported security aid to Israel, he worked to promote the transfer of the US embassy to Jerusalem, pushed for the tightening of sanctions on Iran and consistently opposed attempts to exert international pressure on Israel. For him, the Iranian nuclear program was the main strategic threat to Israel and the US.

One of the most important supporters of Israel in the American arena

After the events of October 7, Graham was among the most prominent American politicians who stood by Israel’s side without reservation. He made repeated visits to Israel during the war, met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials, and called on the American administration to give Israel full support in the fight against Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. In his last visit, in January 2026, he spoke about promoting the “Manhattan Project of the 21st Century”, an American-Israeli collaboration to develop advanced security technologies.

His death sparked a wave of reactions in the US and Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote that “Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a dear friend,” adding that Graham understood more than many others that the security of Israel and the United States are intertwined. President Yitzhak Herzog, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Defense Minister Israel Katz and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also published messages of condolence, in which they described him as one of the most important and consistent supporters of Israel in the American arena.

Graham’s death symbolizes a kind of generational change within the Republican Party. Graham supported active American involvement in the world. He supported the war in Iraq, the US involvement in Libya, Syria, etc. His voice is considered an exception in the party designed by Donald Trump. People like Vice President Vance, who are opposed to almost any military involvement in the world, hit the bait much more than Graham. That is why it was unique that Graham, despite the differences of opinion and the different worldview, managed to like President Trump so much.

Prof. Jonathan Reinhold, from the political science department at Bar-Ilan University, says that “Lindsey Graham was the most supportive member of Congress in Israel. Not only in terms of the scope of the actions he carried out, but also in terms of the depth of his commitment to Israel’s security. He was also the most influential political voice in Congress when it came to support for Israel, and this status was preserved for him for many years;

It is likely that whoever will come after him will not have the same level of deep commitment to Israel and the same political influence in Washington that he had. In a certain sense, this reminds a little of President Joe Biden, who was the member of his party with the most distinct pro-Israel position, and of course, by virtue of being president, also the most influential, and this generation is passing by.”