Prime Minister Netanyahu on Sunday mourned the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, recalling their last meeting and saying 'I told him he was a great friend of Israel.' Netanyahu's statement is the latest in a wave of Israeli tributes to the senator.
Prime Minister Netanyahu on Sunday released a personal statement recalling his last meeting with Sen. Lindsey Graham, writing that he told him he was "a great friend of Israel and a dear friend of mine." The statement, published at 10:34 AM Jerusalem time, adds a personal dimension to the wave of tributes from Israeli leaders since Graham's death was confirmed earlier Sunday.
The Zioneer reported a sequence of tributes throughout the morning. President Isaac Herzog eulogized Graham at 10:19 AM, calling him a "beacon of moral clarity." President Donald Trump followed at 10:35 AM, calling him "one of the greatest senators." Foreign Minister Israel Katz and Shas chairman Aryeh Deri paid tribute earlier, at 09:54 and 09:50 respectively. Netanyahu himself had issued an earlier eulogy around 10:37 AM, which was followed by a separate statement recalling their final meeting. The corroboration of Graham's death moved from initial media reports to official confirmations from his office.
Graham, a Republican senator from South Carolina, was widely regarded as a cornerstone of the U.S.-Israel alliance. The Zioneer reported at 10:26 AM that he died at 71 after a sudden illness. He was a leading voice against Iranian aggression and a close ally of Prime Minister Netanyahu.
What remains open: Details of the senator's illness and funeral arrangements have not been released. The Zioneer earlier reported that a prominent influencer raised questions about the cause of death, noting the IRGC's recent public call to assassinate Graham. No official comment on the circumstances has been made.
5 developments
- DevelopingNetanyahu: 'In Israel there is mourning, in Iran there are celebrations' over Graham's death
- DevelopingIsrael Katz eulogizes Lindsey Graham: 'True friend of Israel, one of its strongest supporters'
- DevelopingNetanyahu: Graham argued to keep US aid flowing even as I offered to cover defense costs
- DevelopingNoy Bar mourns Lindsey Graham: 'America, Israel and the free world lost a loyal fighter'
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