Netanyahu mourns Lindsey Graham as a great friend of Israel

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement of condolence following the death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, honoring him as one of Israel's greatest friends and one of his own closest personal companions.

"Sarah and I mourn together with the American people the loss of our dear friend, Senator Lindsey Graham," Netanyahu wrote.

The prime minister recalled words he had previously spoken about Graham: "Lindsey is a great friend of Israel and a dear friend of mine. We have no better friend than Lindsey." He described Graham as someone who grasped the indivisible stakes shared between the two nations. "Lindsey understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable," Netanyahu wrote. "He dedicated his life to defending America, to strengthening the alliance between us, and to standing up for the free world."

"Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend," Netanyahu wrote, extending his condolences to Graham's family and to the American people.

"May his values and initiatives continue to guide us toward victory and peace, and may his memory be a blessing," the prime minister concluded.

Graham served for decades as a Republican senator from South Carolina and was among the most prominent and consequential voices in the U.S. Senate in support of Israel. He visited the country on numerous occasions — including during periods of active conflict — and was a consistent and forceful advocate for robust American military and diplomatic backing for Jerusalem. His relationship with Netanyahu was widely regarded as one of the closest personal bonds between an Israeli prime minister and a sitting American senator in recent memory.