Axios has revealed what it said was a "secret plan" bythe late US Senator Lindsey Graham that he was working on weeks before his death with the aim of advancing a "normalization path" between Saudi Arabia and the occupation through a strategic defense treaty between Washington and Riyadh.
According to a report published by the American website, Graham led a high-level mediation based on American security commitments to the Kingdom in exchange for normalization, in light of Saudi adherence to a clear and binding path towards a Palestinian state, which made his death, according to the website, a severe blow to this diplomatic track.
Graham held intensive talks that lasted for weeks between Riyadh, Tel Aviv and Washington, and he considered normalization to be the "decisive prize" for reshaping the region after the war with Iran, stressing that the late plan includes launching a broad diplomatic campaign after the occupation elections in October and the midterm elections in the United States, with the aim of reaching an agreement before the new Congress is sworn in next January.
Saudi Insistence on the Establishment of a Palestinian State
Graham pressed U.S. President Donald Trump to authorize a "short and overwhelming" military operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while making Saudi-Israeli normalization the centerpiece of a broader regional plan.
Trump told the leaders of Arab and Muslim countries in a conference call that they should normalize if the war with Iran ends, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia.
Axios stressed that Saudi officials have insisted that any agreement must include an irreversible path to the establishment of a Palestinian state within a clear timetable, which the occupation government has rejected.
Graham discussed the initiative with Trump, U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Whitkoff, and agreed to follow up on the plan in a coordinated manner, as well as with Netanyahu's close aide Ron Dermer, Saudi Ambassador to Washington Reema bint Bandar, and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan.
A visit that has not and will not come true
Graham was planning to visit Saudi Arabia and the occupation to assess the chances of reopening the talks, with intensive work to begin in September in preparation for the drafting of the terms of the agreement in November, and the plan included a defense treaty between Washington and Riyadh, most of which was negotiated during the Biden administration and requires the approval of two-thirds of the Senate, which made Graham see the transition period after the midterm elections as the "only realistic window" to pass.
Axios reveals new details about Graham's death
The website revealed details of the final moments of Graham's life, saying he spoke with Trump, briefed him on his recent trip to Ukraine, the Russia sanctions bill, and Trump told him in return that he would launch new attacks on Iran.
A person who spoke with Graham shortly afterwards was quoted as saying he was feeling unwell, and when he urged him to seek medical attention immediately, Graham said he would do so on Sunday morning after his scheduled appearance on Meet the Press. On NBC.
Graham then joked, "I can't die right now, I still need to impose sanctions on Russia, solve the Iran problem, normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, but he died hours later."
Graham's death sparks controversy
Graham, who died on Saturday night at the age of 71, was one of the Senators' most senior senators and had extensive influence and influence in the decision-making process for South Carolina.
In a statement, Senator Graham's office communications director noted that his death was the result of a sudden illness, without providing details about the nature of his illness, and according to NBC television, citing police audio recordings, that the cause of death was a "heart attack."
The brief statement confirmed that the family asks that privacy be respected at this difficult time, without going into additional medical details, noting that the funeral ceremony will be announced later in coordination with his family and the US Senate.
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