More Than a Party: The Lesson We Learned from Senator Graham's Life

When we arrived this week at the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham, we did not come only to say goodbye to a friend of Israel. We came to pay tribute to a man who, during the most difficult period of our lives, demonstrated to us what leadership is – and what Israel needs today more than ever.

We met Senator Graham shortly after the October 7 attack, when our son, Captain Omer Neutra (of blessed memory) – an American-Israeli citizen who volunteered to serve as a lone soldier – was kidnapped by Hamas from the burning tank that the force he commanded was racing with toward the fence at 6:30 in the morning, in an attempt to stop the infiltration of Nukhba terrorists between Kibbutz Nir-Oz and Nirim.

From the very beginning of the war, Senator Graham was one of the clearest and most determined voices in the Senate calling for the release of the hostages and standing by Israel. He spoke clearly about Iran's role in supporting Hamas, and believed that regional stability could not be achieved as long as Hamas continued to rule the Gaza Strip.

Shortly thereafter, he led a bipartisan delegation to Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Egypt. He believed that Hamas could not thwart the possibility of reshaping the Middle East through a broad regional alliance against Iran and its proxies. From his perspective, these were not Republican or Democratic goals; these were strategic interests of the United States and its allies.

That is how he conducted himself with us as well.

He did not tell us what we wanted to hear; he told us what he believed was right. He did not make promises he could not keep and did not plant false hopes, but he always listened, asked questions, and made time for us. In one of the meetings with the families of the hostages, he said a sentence we will not forget: "I wish you were all my constituents."

Throughout the struggle to bring Omer back, and later to bring his body for burial, we tried to act in the same spirit.

As early as October 15, 2023, as American citizens, we received a phone call from Donald Trump. He was then a former president and a private citizen. We thanked him for his support, and in that same conversation, we told him one thing that was more important to us than anything: that the issue of the hostages must remain a humanitarian issue, and not become a tool in the American political struggle – especially in an election year.

That is how we acted throughout the entire struggle.

We worked with the Biden administration and later with the Trump administration. We met with presidents, administration members, senators, and members of Congress from both parties. When invited, we participated in both the Republican and Democratic conventions. We never asked who would get the credit; we only asked who could help.

We believed then – and we believe today – that the involvement of the United States was a critical component in the effort to return all the hostages. The United States had an ability to influence that no other country has: on the countries of the region, on the actors involved, and also on the government of Israel. To maximize this influence, a commitment from both administrations and both parties was required. Today, after all the hostages have returned home, our belief in this has only strengthened. The fate of the hostages was greater than any election campaign.

This is also the lesson we take from Lindsey Graham.

Israel is in a different place today than it was a few years ago. Support for it in the United States is no longer taken for granted. Public discourse has become more polarized, and the attitude toward Israel is gradually becoming a topic identified with one political camp more than the other. This is a trend that worries us greatly. This is not just a question of image; it is a question of Israel's national security.

Returning the hostages was a national mission. Dealing with Iran, the fight against terrorism, and the strategic alliance with the United States will continue to accompany us in the coming years. None of these tasks can depend on the identity of the sitting president or the composition of Congress. These are long-term interests of the State of Israel, and therefore they must continue to enjoy broad support from Republicans and Democrats alike.

Precisely for this reason, Israel needs more sophisticated, more patient, and longer-term diplomacy today. Diplomacy that is not satisfied with good relations with the sitting administration, but consistently cultivates ties, trust, and partnerships with both sides of the American political map. Bipartisan support is not guaranteed; it is an asset that must be invested in, maintained, and constantly renewed.

When we stood today at Lindsey Graham's funeral, alongside US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and many other leaders, we thought less about the politician he was, and more about the lesson he left behind.

Lindsey Graham was a proud Republican, but he understood that there are tasks greater than a party. We believe that Israel must also remember this. Not because it is politically correct. Because it is vital for its future.