ByJPOST EDITORIAL

JULY 13, 2026 05:55

The passing of Senator Lindsey Graham this weekend has left Israel without one of its most steadfast and outspoken allies in Washington.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted that Graham recognized that "the security of Israel and America are inseparable," adding: "Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend."

President Isaac Herzog portrayed the South Carolinian Republican as "a beacon of moral clarity and a true leader of the US-Israel partnership," remembering how he stood with Israelis during their toughest times.

These tributes reflected more than the loss of a veteran statesman. Graham's bond with Israel covered decades and various administrations. It showed through laws, military aid, frequent trips, and a readiness to back the Jewish state even when it proved politically tricky.

The records of The Jerusalem Post document that steady public record.

Graham dismisses idea of Israel reverting to pre-1967 borders

While visiting Israel with a congressional group in 2011, Graham dismissed the idea that Israel could safely revert to the pre-1967 lines. "From my point of view, I can never imagine an agreement that goes back to the '67 boundaries because, in my view, those boundaries are indefensible," he told the Post.

He also tried to comfort Israelis that support for their country stayed deeply rooted in Congress. "The purpose of this trip is to try and reinforce, from my point of view, the unwavering support that the State of Israel has in Congress," Graham said. "Quite frankly, Congress has Israel's back."

That approach shaped much of Graham's career. Graham himself was ready to question Israeli policy, yet his core view never shifted: Israel was a democratic partner whose security mattered both morally and strategically to the United States.

His backing also led to concrete steps. In 2009, Graham teamed with Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer to advance legislation meant to bolster American resistance to commercial boycotts of Israel.

Graham was equally clear about the threat from Iran's nuclear efforts. During another trip to Jerusalem with senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman in 2010, he backed keeping military options open if talks and sanctions did not work.

Graham: 'The Congress has been united in protection of one of our best allies in the world, the State of Israel'

He again highlighted the strength of congressional support for Israel. "Whatever relationship problems we have had in the past, it has never seeped over into Congress," Graham said. "The Congress has been united in protection of one of our best allies in the world, the State of Israel."

The senator also backed moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem, advanced security aid, opposed efforts to sideline Israel at the United Nations, and supported steps against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

After the October 7 attacks, Graham ranked among Israel's strongest advocates. He traveled there during the conflict and argued that the damage caused by Hamas showed why Israelis could not rely on assurances from hostile parties or an uncaring world community. He also quickly linked Hamas's backing to Iran. "Without the October 7 massacre happening, I don't believe Iran would be on the verge of regime collapse," Graham told the Post's Amichai Stein in February.

Graham kept believing that Israel's long-term path needed separation from the Palestinians. In an interview with the Post, he cautioned that one state would either stop being Jewish or leave millions of Palestinians without lasting political rights.

"To be pro-Israel, you need to be honest with Israel," he said. "Being pro-Israel means telling hard truths."

That captured the real worth of Graham's friendship. His dedication was firm enough to handle differences. Israel could count on criticism coming from someone committed to its survival, its democratic nature, and its ties with the United States.

American politics will yield other backers of Israel. Few will bring Graham's record of service, his personal warmth toward the country, or his natural grasp that alliances need care, defense, and occasional frankness.

The US has lost a senator who often assured Israelis that Congress had their back, and spent more than two decades showing he meant it. Israel has lost a good friend.