Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina who has been considered one of Israel’s staunchest supporters in Congress, has died at 71.
Graham’s workplace introduced his demise in an announcement early Sunday morning, saying that he had died late Saturday after “a short and sudden sickness.” Graham had returned from Ukraine, the place he met with Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelensky, the day earlier than.
Graham’s demise means the Senate and Republican Social gathering have misplaced considered one of its most sturdy pro-Israel voices at a time when anti-Israel sentiment is on the rise in each locations. In his greater than three many years in Congress, first within the Home after which within the Senate since 2003, Graham aggressively backed U.S. help to Israel, superior a hawkish line on Iran and met repeatedly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in each Israel and the US.
Netanyahu repeatedly stated Israel had “no larger buddy” than Graham in the US. Graham’s most up-to-date go to to Israel was in February, forward of the U.S.-Israel warfare on Iran, which he later took credit score for urging. “They’ll inform me issues our personal authorities gained’t inform me,” he stated of Israeli officers on the time.
Graham was additionally a vocal backer of Israel’s navy responses to assaults by Hamas, together with throughout the 2014 and after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel that triggered the warfare in Gaza and augured a interval of declining assist for Israel. On Oct. 8, he issued an announcement calling for Israel to defeat Hamas “by any and all means essential” and within the subsequent weeks drew consideration for calling on Israel to “flatten the place.”
Graham continued to advertise a two-state answer because it receded as a U.S. precedence, however he additionally adjusted to mirror the mounting isolationist streak in his get together. Final yr, he made information for embracing Netanyahu’s announcement of a plan to “taper” U.S. help to Israel, saying it needs to be carried out ahead of Netanyahu’s 10-year timeline.
Graham’s outlook on Israel match right into a broad portfolio that included helming the Senate Price range Committee and pushing for a stronger U.S. response to Russia. Graham, who by no means married and had no kids, was up for reelection in November.
This obituary will likely be up to date.
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