ICEJ USA Honors the Life and Legacy of Sen. Lindsey Graham
By Shannon Bennett, ICEJ USA Director of Communications
As family, friends and colleagues gather to celebrate the life of Sen. Lindsey Graham, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem – USA joins Americans, Israelis and friends of the Jewish state around the world in honoring a man whose steadfast support for Israel never wavered.
For the Christian Embassy, Sen. Graham’s passing is especially personal.
More than a decade ago, Dr. Susan Michael and other leaders of the American Christian Leaders for Israel (ACLI) network met with Sen. Graham in Washington as Christian leaders united to oppose the proposed Iran nuclear agreement and advocate for America’s enduring alliance with Israel. Throughout the years that followed, Sen. Graham remained one of the strongest voices in Congress in defense of Israel’s security and the Jewish people.
“Sen. Lindsey Graham understood that America’s relationship with Israel is far more than a strategic alliance. It is a moral commitment,” said Dr. Susan Michael, president of ICEJ USA. “I had the privilege of meeting with him on behalf of Christian supporters of Israel, and found him to be gracious, engaged and unwavering in his conviction that Israel must never stand alone.”
Whether standing with Israel during times of war or peace, Sen. Graham consistently demonstrated courage and conviction. Following the Hamas terrorist attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, he became one of Israel’s most outspoken defenders in the United States Senate, declaring, “I unapologetically stand with Israel.” In one of his final public statements on the subject, he reaffirmed that commitment by saying, “I’m with Israel until my dying day.”
Those were not empty words. They reflected a lifetime of action.
Sen. Graham traveled to Israel repeatedly, built enduring relationships with Israeli leaders, and consistently championed Israel’s right to defend its citizens against terrorism. He also recognized the growing threat of antisemitism and supported efforts to confront the hatred directed toward Jewish communities both in America and around the world.
His support for Israel was also shaped by deeply held convictions. Speaking in 2025, he remarked, “If America pulls the plug on Israel, God will pull the plug on us,” expressing his belief that America’s blessing is inseparable from its commitment to stand with the Jewish people.
“Those of us who knew Sen. Graham’s heart for Israel will remember him not simply as a senator, but as a faithful friend of the Jewish people,” Dr. Michael said. “His voice carried great influence during some of Israel’s darkest hours, and he never hesitated to use that influence in defense of the only democracy in the Middle East.”
“As we remember his life during these memorial services, we give thanks for his decades of principled leadership and his unwavering friendship with Israel. We pray for his family, his loved ones and all who mourn his passing. May his memory continue to inspire leaders to stand for truth, justice and the enduring alliance between the United States and Israel.”
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