U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of Israel’s most powerful and consistent defenders in the halls of American government, died Saturday evening following a brief and sudden illness, his office announced Sunday. He was 71.
“Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” his office said in a statement posted on X.
For evangelical Christians who have stood with Israel for decades, Graham’s death removes one of their most reliable partners in Washington. A devout member of Corinth Baptist Church in Seneca, South Carolina, Graham was rooted in the Southern Baptist tradition and spoke openly of his Christian faith as the foundation of his support for the Jewish state. He was not shy about tying his politics to his belief in the biblical promise given to Abraham.
Graham represented South Carolina in the Senate from 2003, after previously serving in the House of Representatives, giving him more than three decades of experience on Capitol Hill. A former military lawyer, he served in the U.S. Air Force and later retired from the Air Force Reserve with the rank of colonel.
His foreign policy was defined by an unapologetically hawkish posture toward Iran’s nuclear program and its regional ambitions, which he called direct threats to Israel and to the stability of the entire Middle East. Graham became a close ally and foreign policy adviser to President Donald Trump, despite having opposed Trump during the 2016 Republican presidential primary. He championed the Abraham Accords and pushed in recent years for normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia as part of a broader security alliance built to contain Iran and its proxies.
US President Donald Trump calls Senator Lindsey Graham “one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known,” after the South Carolina Republican’s office announces his sudden passing.
“He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!!” writes Trump on Truth Social.
After bitterly criticizing Trump when he was only a candidate for the presidency in 2016, Graham became one of Trump’s most die-hard supporters.
Graham’s support for Israel reached its sharpest expression after Hamas’ terrorist massacre of October 7, 2023. He traveled to Israel repeatedly in the years that followed, defended Israel’s right to dismantle Hamas entirely, and rejected international pressure that he believed would block Israel from completing its military objectives in Gaza. He pushed to keep U.S. military assistance to Israel free of new conditions and challenged international criticism of Israel’s wartime conduct at every turn.
Graham was born in Central, South Carolina, in 1955. He studied psychology and law at the University of South Carolina and served as a military attorney in the Air Force before entering politics. He was elected to the House in 1994 and won his Senate seat in 2002. In the Senate, he became an influential member of committees overseeing the judiciary, defense, and government spending, and he stood as one of the chamber’s leading voices for confronting Iran and defending the U.S.-Israel alliance as a pillar of American strategy in the Middle East.
Israeli leaders mourn a “beloved friend”
Israeli politicians turned to social media within hours of the announcement to mourn Graham.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, issued a statement Sunday. “Lindsey understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable. He devoted his life to defending America, strengthening our alliance and standing up for the free world,” Netanyahu said. “Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend. Our hearts are with Lindsey’s family and with the American people at this difficult time. May his values and initiatives continue to guide us toward victory and peace, and may his memory forever be a blessing.”
President Isaac Herzog wrote on X Sunday morning that he was “shocked and heartbroken to learn of the sudden passing of the great American patriot, a great friend of Israel, and my dear friend US Senator Lindsey Graham.” Herzog called Graham a “beacon of moral clarity and a true leader of the US-Israel partnership.” He added: “We will never forget how he stood by the people of Israel in our most difficult moments, and we will remain eternally grateful for his sense of justice, truth, and loyalty. The people of Israel mourn his loss, and I will miss my great friend very dearly.”
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wrote that Israel lost “one of its greatest friends.” “Senator Lindsey Graham stood with Israel not because it was easy, but because he believed it was right. His unwavering support, courage, and moral clarity earned him the admiration of millions of Israelis,” Ben-Gvir wrote. “The State of Israel will always remember his friendship, his unwavering support, and his steadfast commitment to Israel’s security.” He closed with condolences to Graham’s family and the American people.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said he was “deeply saddened by the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham,” calling him one of Israel’s “strongest and most steadfast supporters” who “was an unwavering voice in support of Israel’s security and its right to defend itself.” Katz continued: “Following the October 7 massacre, he traveled to Israel time and again, standing shoulder to shoulder with our people in an extraordinary demonstration of solidarity and unwavering friendship. His repeated visits during one of the darkest chapters in Israel’s history reflected his deep commitment to the Jewish state and its right to live in peace and security.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said he always called Graham “the best senator and the best friend.” “Lindsey was a man with a huge heart and rare personal charm. He was blessed with a clear vision of reality and a true commitment to values. His support for Israel and its security was unwavering,” Sa’ar wrote. “The State of Israel has lost a great friend. Israel will not forget you, dear friend.”
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett wrote that he was “heartbroken to hear of the passing of my friend Senator Lindsey Graham.” “America has lost a devoted patriot, and Israel has lost one of its greatest friends,” Bennett said. “Lindsey stood with Israel through our darkest hours, with courage. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Opposition head Yair Lapid said Graham “had unwavering moral clarity, a deep devotion to the people of Israel and a clear vision for a secure and peaceful Middle East.” Lapid added: “His warmth, humor and energy will be deeply missed,” and sent prayers to Graham’s family.
Shas party leader Arye Deri said he was “deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest friends of the State of Israel and Righteous Among the Nations of our generation.” Deri said: “He stood courageously by Israel’s side, fought uncompromisingly against the Iranian axis of evil and terrorism, and made a significant contribution to strengthening the strong alliance between Israel and the United States.”
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana sent condolences on behalf of the Knesset to Graham’s family and to South Carolina. “Lindsey was one of the funniest and smartest people I’ve ever met. He was a great friend of the State of Israel, and to me personally,” Ohana wrote. “He was one of a kind, and he will be dearly missed. Rest in peace, friend. Thank you for fighting for what is good.”
Samaria Regional Council Head Yossi Dagan said he was “filled with sorrow over the sudden passing of Lindsey Graham,” praising him for his love of Israel and his idealism. “He was a true lover of Israel and an idealist. A man who believed, out of Christian faith, that the Jews should return to the Land of Israel, and worked for decades for the State of Israel and strengthening the bond between Israel and the United States,” Dagan said. “Whoever blesses the people of Israel is blessed, and he blessed the people of Israel from the bottom of his heart, without ceasing.” Dagan noted that Graham was a declared friend of Samaria and one of the official hosts of last month’s Judea and Samaria conference held in Washington.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Innovation, Science, and Technology Minister Gila Gamliel, Yisrael Beytenu head Avigdor Liberman, and Likud MK Eli Cohen also offered condolences over Graham’s passing.
Lindsey Graham spent three decades on Capitol Hill proving that the promise given to Abraham still moves the affairs of nations. He blessed the people of Israel without ceasing, and the leaders of the Jewish state made certain, in the hours after his death, that the blessing was returned to him in full.
