Israel is safer because of Lindsey Graham - opinion

In December 2014, a palpable sense of urgency filled the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem. Israel was still processing the recent conflict with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the collapse of US-brokered peace talks with the Palestinian Authority. The international community often placed blame on Israel, while domestically, the political landscape was unsettled with new elections looming.

Amidst these pressures, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's primary concern was Iran. The P5+1 nations (the US, UK, France, Russia, China, plus Germany) were on the verge of finalizing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or Iran nuclear deal, though negotiations were extended. It was against this backdrop that U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham arrived, exuding a quiet professionalism that reminded the author of football legend Barry Sanders.

Graham's visits to Israel were frequent, fostering a relationship built on mutual respect with Netanyahu. Their meeting that December day centered on Iran and the critical need to prevent the regime from acquiring nuclear weapons. Graham, already aligned with Israel's assessment of the threat, understood the magnitude of Iran's danger not only to Israel but to the wider Middle East.

The author, Ari Harow, argues that Senator Graham's decades of public service and steadfast support have made Israel safer. Graham's consistent engagement and deep understanding of the complex regional security landscape, particularly the threat from Iran, have been invaluable to Israeli leadership.