Netanyahu recalls final conversation with US senator Graham: "He went ballistic"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has paid tribute to the late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, recalling one of their final conversations and describing the Republican lawmaker as a steadfast supporter of Israel's security.

Speaking on Fox & Friends Weekend, Netanyahu said Graham strongly opposed his proposal to gradually phase out U.S. military aid to Israel, arguing that such assistance remained essential.

"Because he was so concerned with our security, which he believed was your [America's] security, that he actually fought the prime minister of Israel on keeping America's aid or actually increasing it, and that tells you what kind of a person this extraordinary, extraordinary friend was," Netanyahu said.

Graham, the Republican senator from South Carolina, died on July 12 following what his office described as a "brief and sudden illness." He was widely known for his strong support for Israel and Ukraine throughout his political career.

Netanyahu said that during what he described as their last conversation, he told Graham that Israel had developed a strong enough economy to eventually finance its own defence without U.S. military assistance.

"[I told him] we can take care of our own — financing our own weapons for the defense of Israel and defense of our common interests with America, so I'm going to phase out… the military support for Israel over a period of years and bring it down to zero. We can do it,'" Netanyahu said.

"He [Graham] went ballistic. He said, 'No way, you can't do that.'"

The Israeli prime minister also reflected on Graham's personality, praising his sense of humour and direct manner.

Netanyahu said he found his meetings with the senator "encouraging" and added that he would "miss him terribly."

By Sabina Mammadli