Netanyahu and Lapid Attend Memorial for Senator Lindsey Graham in Washington

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Yair Lapid participated in a memorial ceremony for Senator Lindsey Graham held in Washington on Tuesday evening. Graham, who passed away earlier this month at age 71, served as a U.S. Senator from South Carolina since 2003 and was widely recognized as a strong supporter of Israel. He was a close ally of former President Donald Trump and had a background as a military lawyer and judge in the U.S. Air Force. Graham was first elected to Congress in 1994 and to the Senate in 2002. He ran against Trump in the 2016 Republican presidential primaries but lost, later becoming good friends with him. He was also a candidate for re-election to the Senate in 2024.

Throughout his political career, Graham was known for his staunch policies, often more hawkish than Trump’s, and frequently expressed support for the Israeli government. He proposed multiple times to provide Israel with security and economic assistance and condemned international arrest warrants issued by the Hague tribunal against Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant. During recent conflicts, Graham publicly defended Israel, dismissing accusations that Israel used starvation as a weapon against Palestinians as "blood libel." Netanyahu eulogized Graham, calling him "one of Israel’s greatest friends" and "a beloved friend" who understood the inseparable security interests of Israel and the United States.

Separately, a U.S. administration official told Israeli media that negotiations with Iran are at a serious stage. Netanyahu, who traveled from Nevatim Airbase to the U.S., reportedly discussed Iran with Trump during his visit.