Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to travel to Washington, D.C., next week to meet with President Donald Trump and attend the memorial service for the late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., his office announced Friday.
Netanyahu is set to depart Israel on Monday and will meet with Trump on Tuesday. The memorial service for Graham, described by Netanyahu as a "dear friend," is also planned for Tuesday in Washington.
Netanyahu paid tribute to Graham on social media, stating, "Lindsey is a great friend of Israel and a cherished friend of mine. We have no better friend than Lindsey." He added that Graham understood the inseparable nature of Israel's security and America's security, and that the senator "devoted his life to defending America, strengthening our alliance and standing up for the free world."
Graham's office previously stated that the senator's "life and legacy" would be celebrated in Washington, D.C., as well as in South Carolina.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee praised Graham's support for the U.S.-Israel alliance, asserting that such a partnership is valuable to all Americans. Huckabee suggested that opposition to Israel is a threat to the United States, citing Iranian proxies as an example. He characterized the alliance as being built on shared Judeo-Christian values.
Recent joint operations between the U.S. and Israel against Iran include Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion, launched on Feb. 28. In the subsequent days, U.S. Central Command has conducted airstrikes against Iranian military targets, while the Israel Defense Forces have responded to provocations from Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group.