The Shift: Israel lost Lindsey Graham. Now it’s lost half of House democrats, too.

Lindsey Graham, a prominent Republican figure who represented South Carolina for over 30 years, has passed away at 71. Known for his hawkish foreign policy stances and unwavering support for Israel, Graham was a close ally of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu. He advocated for military interventions in various regions and was a vocal proponent of attacking Iran. Israeli officials, including Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, expressed profound sorrow at his death, with Netanyahu stating, “Israel has lost one of its greatest friends.” Graham’s passing is seen as a significant blow to Israel, as he was considered a crucial intermediary and advocate for Israeli interests with Trump.

In a separate development, a recent vote in the House of Representatives on an amendment to block military aid to Israel revealed a “seismic shift” in Democratic sentiment. While a similar amendment two years ago garnered only 37 Democratic votes, 103 Democrats, nearly half of the House, supported the measure this time. Congressional Progressive Caucus leader Rep. Greg Casar stated, “That sends a strong message to Netanyahu that the days are over of an unaccountable blank check to his wars and his war crimes, at least from the Democratic Party.” This shift included votes from traditionally pro-Israel lawmakers like former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, indicating growing fissures within the Democratic Party regarding aid to Israel.