Unreleased recordings from documentary filmmaker Alex Holder show that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham secretly coordinated a strategy to challenge the International Criminal Court (ICC) in late October 2024, just days before the U.S. presidential election.
A Bipartisan Push
During a recorded discussion on October 29, 2024, Netanyahu expressed concern over pending arrest warrants against him and suggested targeting the allegations surrounding then ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan. Netanyahu urged Graham to rally congressional support, emphasizing the need to build a broad bipartisan front to delay court proceedings.
In a follow-up conversation, Graham jokingly told Netanyahu, "You owe me big time. I need to get a lot of Shekels", adding that he deserved more than just a dinner for his efforts.
Graham successfully recruited Democratic Senators Richard Blumenthal and Ben Cardin to join the effort, asking Netanyahu to call them directly to express his appreciation.
The Aftermath
Following their coordinated efforts, the group released a joint document on November 1, 2024, calling on the ICC to delay its proceedings.
The disclosure of these private talks comes shortly after Netanyahu attended Graham's memorial service in Washington, where President Donald Trump assured that the Israeli leader would not face arrest on American soil.
