Netanyahu Postpones Washington Visit Following Senator Lindsey Graham's Death

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed a planned trip to Washington, D.C., originally scheduled for July 15, after the funeral of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham was moved to the end of the month. The visit would have been Netanyahu's first official trip to the U.S. capital since the start of the war with Iran.

While in Washington, Netanyahu intended to attend memorial services for Graham, who died of an aortic dissection on July 11 at age 71. He also sought a meeting with President Donald Trump to discuss regional security, Iran, and Israeli military operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. President Trump has recently urged Israel to withdraw forces from southern Syria and Lebanon to prevent further regional destabilization.

On July 16, the Israeli Knesset held a minute of silence to commemorate Graham. Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana led the session, describing the late senator as one of the greatest friends the State of Israel ever had. No new date has been set for the postponed visit or the meeting with Trump.