JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday paid tribute to U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham following the South Carolina Republican's death, calling him one of Israel's closest allies and a personal friend whose support for the U.S.-Israel relationship spanned decades.
In a statement issued by his office, Netanyahu said he and his wife, Sara, mourned Graham's passing alongside the American people.
"Lindsey understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable," Netanyahu said. "Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend."
Graham, 71, died after what his office described as a "brief and sudden illness." His office announced the death on Saturday and asked for privacy for his family. No official cause of death was immediately released.
The senator, who represented South Carolina in the Senate for more than two decades, was one of Israel's most outspoken supporters in the U.S. Congress. Throughout his career, he backed military assistance to Israel, advocated a hardline approach toward Iran, and maintained close ties with successive Israeli governments. He also frequently visited Israel and met with Netanyahu during periods of heightened regional tension.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also offered condolences, describing Graham as a steadfast friend of Israel and praising his long-standing commitment to the alliance between the two countries.
Tributes also came from political leaders in the United States and abroad. Former U.S. President Donald Trump described Graham as "one of the greatest people and senators" he had known, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the senator's support for Ukraine and transatlantic security.
Graham served in the Senate since 2003 after previously serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. Over his career, he became one of the Republican Party's leading voices on national security and foreign policy and chaired several influential Senate committees. In recent years, he remained an advocate for robust U.S. engagement overseas, including support for Israel and Ukraine.
As of Sunday, U.S. officials had not announced funeral arrangements. Under South Carolina law, Governor Henry McMaster is expected to appoint an interim senator until a special election is held to fill the vacancy.
