Will Lindsey Graham’s death affect Israel’s standing in Washington?

The death of Senator Lindsey Graham, the last of the "Three Amigos" (Graham, John McCain, and Joseph Lieberman), raises questions about Israel's standing in Washington. While Graham was a devoted advocate for Israel, his passing will likely have only an immediate impact on direct communication channels between the US and Israel.

• In the short term, Graham's death means the loss of a reliable intermediary between former President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, making their relationship "more fragile and tenuous."
• However, the article argues that in the long run, Graham's absence will not significantly alter Israel's standing due to what it describes as "profound weaknesses of Israeli standing."
• The author contends that Netanyahu's policies, including the war on Iran and ongoing conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza, have made Israel more of a liability than an asset to the US.
• The article suggests that traditional institutional support for Israel, such as that from AIPAC, may no longer be sufficient to maintain Israel's exceptional status in Washington, especially if Trump is no longer bound by institutional pressure.