Recording Reveals Netanyahu, Graham Strategy to Fight ICC Arrest Warrants

“You need to pay me for all of this. I should be getting a lot of shekels,” Graham joked.

By United with Israel Staff

A newly released recording of a private conversation between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the late Sen. Lindsey Graham offers a rare glimpse into behind-the-scenes efforts by Israeli and American leaders to oppose the International Criminal Court’s unprecedented and politically motivated attempt to criminalize Israel’s war against Hamas.

The recording, made during a phone call in late October 2024 and published this week, captures Netanyahu discussing the ICC’s expected decision to issue arrest warrants against Israeli leaders and urging Graham to help challenge the court’s actions.

“A panel of three judges will make a decision very soon,” Netanyahu said, referring to the ICC’s deliberations.

Netanyahu argued that sexual harassment allegations surrounding ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan could provide grounds to pause the proceedings and review the integrity of the case.

“Perhaps someone can approach the court and say, ‘We want to reexamine this before you do anything, before you issue an arrest warrant,'” Netanyahu said. “The entire process should be reviewed. That cloud, that stain, has to be removed before moving forward.”

He then encouraged Graham to organize a bipartisan effort in Washington.

“I suggest you send a letter, perhaps together with several other senators,” Netanyahu said, adding that Democratic lawmakers should also be included to strengthen the appeal.

Graham responded that then-House Speaker Mike Johnson would be “the perfect person” to sign such a letter and pledged to work toward building bipartisan support.

Later that day, the two held a second phone call to discuss their progress. During the conversation, Graham joked about his efforts to support Israel.

“You need to pay me for all of this,” he quipped. “I should be getting a lot of shekels.”

He added with a laugh that “it’s going to take more than dinner.”

The ICC ultimately issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over allegations stemming from Israel’s war against Hamas following the October 7 massacre.

Israel has rejected the warrants as politically motivated, arguing that the ICC lacks jurisdiction because Israel is not a party to the Rome Statute and maintains an independent judicial system capable of investigating allegations against its own military.

Israeli officials have also argued that the court drew a false moral equivalence between a democratic nation defending itself after the October 7 massacre and Hamas, the Iranian-backed terrorist organization that launched the attack.

Karim Khan, the ICC’s chief prosecutor who sought the warrants, was later removed from office following findings that he had engaged in sexual misconduct.

The United States has also strongly opposed the ICC’s actions against Israeli leaders. Lawmakers from both parties have criticized the warrants as an abuse of the court’s authority that undermines Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism.

The recordings, released following Graham’s death, provide an unusual behind-the-scenes look at the close coordination between Israeli and American leaders as they sought to push back against what they viewed as an illegitimate attempt to prosecute Israel’s democratically elected leadership for defending the country in the aftermath of the deadliest attack in its history.