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U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham met with Mossad Director David Barnea during a diplomatic visit to Israel, sharing a photo of the two giving thumbs up on social media Sunday.
“Just met with my good friend David Barnea, Director of Mossad. Wow, these people are clever. God Bless America. God Bless Israel,” Graham wrote on his X account, formerly known as Twitter.
The Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, is officially described as “a national organization responsible for covert activity abroad,” according to its website. The meeting between the senior U.S. lawmaker and Israel’s top intelligence chief comes during heightened tensions across the Middle East.
The social media post attracted immediate attention from Russian state media outlet RT, which questioned whether Graham was “speaking for all of America” in what they described as “secret talks” with the Israeli intelligence chief.
Graham responded directly to RT’s characterization with a touch of sarcasm: “To my Russian friends, chill out. I’ve known David for a very long time. He’s looking to buy property in South Carolina and I wanted to give him my two cents’ worth. In case you haven’t noticed, President Trump is in charge.”
The South Carolina Republican’s visit to Israel included multiple high-level meetings with Israeli officials, most notably Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Following their discussions, Graham emphasized the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries.
“Great visit with Prime Minister Netanyahu and his team at one of the most consequential moments in recent memory. America has no better friend than the State of Israel,” Graham stated on social media.
This marks Graham’s second meeting with Netanyahu in recent weeks, highlighting the senator’s ongoing engagement with Israeli leadership at a critical juncture in regional politics.
Graham has long been a staunch supporter of Israel in Congress and has taken particular interest in Middle East security matters. As a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, his discussions with Israeli officials likely covered shared security concerns, intelligence cooperation, and strategic regional issues.
The timing of Graham’s visit is significant as it comes amid evolving U.S.-Israel relations under the Trump administration and ongoing regional conflicts. The senator has previously advocated for strong measures against Iran, a common adversary of both the United States and Israel.
The meeting with Barnea is particularly noteworthy given Mossad’s reputation for sophisticated intelligence operations. While details of their discussions were not made public, such high-level exchanges typically involve assessments of regional security threats and intelligence cooperation between allies.
Graham’s visit reflects the continued close security partnership between the United States and Israel, despite occasional policy differences between the two nations. As a key Republican voice on foreign policy, Graham’s engagements with Israeli leadership carry significance in shaping congressional perspectives on Middle East policy.
Israel remains one of America’s closest allies in the Middle East, with cooperation spanning military aid, intelligence sharing, and joint security initiatives. Graham’s meetings with both Netanyahu and Barnea reinforce these long-standing ties at a time when both countries face complex security challenges throughout the region.
The diplomatic engagement comes as U.S. policy in the Middle East continues to evolve under the Trump administration, with implications for regional stability and America’s strategic positioning in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
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5 Comments
This visit by Senator Graham to Israel and his meeting with the Mossad director suggests an ongoing effort to strengthen intelligence and security cooperation between the two countries. The timing is significant given the regional tensions.
This meeting between a senior US lawmaker and the Mossad director is certainly notable, especially given the heightened tensions in the region. I’m curious to learn more about the specific topics they discussed and how this may impact US-Israel relations going forward.
The response from the Russian state media outlet is also interesting, highlighting the geopolitical sensitivities around these types of diplomatic meetings. It will be worth watching how this all plays out.
Senator Graham’s response to the Russian media seems a bit flippant, but it does underscore the close ties between the US and Israel, even at the highest levels of government and intelligence. I wonder what specific issues were on the agenda for this meeting.
It’s not surprising that a meeting between a senior US lawmaker and the Mossad director would attract scrutiny, especially given the complex regional dynamics. Transparency around these types of high-level discussions is important.