Graham posts series of videos with Netanyahu after UN vote spat
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) posted a series of videos alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday after the Israeli leader’s recent spat with the U.S. over its abstention from a United Nations cease-fire resolution.
In a series of videos posted on X, formerly Twitter, Graham stood alongside Netanyahu as he reiterated his support for Israel and its efforts against militant group Hamas. In the first video posted, Netanyahu thanked Graham for his “consistent support” and described the senator as a “great friend of Israel.”
“I’m here for a reason — to show support to you, my good friend, the elected leader of the state of Israel. I have known you for almost 30 years now. I met you through our good friend John McCain. And I’m here to tell you that I have your back and your country’s back,” Graham said in the video.
Netanyahu canceled a delegation to Washington on Monday after the U.S. declined to veto a United Nations Security Council resolution that demanded an immediate cease-fire in Gaza during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. His office said the abstention was a “clear departure from the consistent position of the United States at the Security Council since the beginning of the war.”
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said he was “disappointed” in Israel’s decision.
Graham eagerly emphasized his support for Israel amid the recent disagreements between the countries.
In the next three videos, Graham was the only one speaking as Netanyahu stood looking at him and nodding along. In one video, Graham says while it’s “OK to have different disagreements among friends and allies,” the “destruction of Hamas militarily is nonnegotiable.”
“To the civilized world, if these battalions are still standing when this is over. It will be the biggest mistake, maybe in history,” Graham said in a separate video, adding that Iran would “celebrate.”
Graham pushed back on allegations that Israel is using starvation as a “weapon of war,” calling it “bullshit” and “blood libel” in another video.
“That is bullshit. And I will tomorrow walk through the food that’s coming into Gaza and what you’re doing to make sure that people in Gaza are do not starve. So Israel is — got its back against the wall. We have your back,” he said.
The Hill has reached out to Graham’s office for further comment.
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