Key facts
- Senator Lindsey Graham's death has created a void in Washington's advocacy for Israel.
- Graham was instrumental in pushing for diplomatic ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
- He had a complex relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, moving from criticism to advocacy for normalization.
- Potential successors like Senators Ted Cruz and Tom Cotton are seen as possible advocates for Israel.
- Graham was noted for his bipartisan appeal, a trait less evident in potential successors.
The passing of Senator Lindsey Graham has left a significant void in Washington's advocacy for Israel and the pursuit of normalization with Saudi Arabia, according to former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides.
Graham was a powerful voice pushing for the establishment of diplomatic ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a key objective for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. Despite earlier harsh criticism of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Graham, after engaging with Biden administration officials, reconciled with the prince in 2023 and began advocating for the normalization deal.
The Saudi-Israel normalization project has been largely stalled since the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, with Saudi Arabia demanding a clear pathway to a Palestinian state. Nides and others have pointed to Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) as potential successors who could champion Israel's cause. Both senators are known for their hawkish national security stances, particularly concerning Iran, though they are not as closely aligned with President Trump and are perceived as less personable by Democrats.
"Graham is an unusual figure because Democrats liked him, too. I mean, they got pissed at him, but they liked him," Nides commented. Offices for Cruz and Cotton did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Fred Fleitz, who served as a National Security Council chief of staff during Trump's first term, suggested that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe are prominent figures who could gain influence on Iran policy. However, he noted that neither is believed to have been as strongly in favor of military action as Graham.
"Trump listens to a lot of people, but he clearly listens to Senator Graham," Fleitz stated. "He would call him for advice, and Graham would call him constantly to try to give him his counsel to help him push responsible national security policy."