Nancy Pelosi, Democratic delegation visit Israel after Lindsey Graham

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and seven other House Democrats are visiting Israel this week, shortly after Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) met with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

A spokesman for the Knesset, Israel's parliament, confirmed to The Times of Israel that Pelosi will be joined by Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Bill Keating (D-Mass.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.).

The representatives are expected to visit the Knesset Wednesday for an official ceremony and to observe deliberations, the Times reported.

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release that on Monday Graham and Bennett discussed strengthening cooperation, as well as dealing with Middle East security challenges, including threats from Iran. 

"Lindsey, thank you for being one of Israel’s greatest friends — both in word and in deed!" Bennett tweeted.

Graham also met with Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Innovation, Science and Technology Minister Orit Farkash Hacohen.

Graham focused heavily on Iran during his meetings. 

"Russia and China are rational actors, even though their behavior is thuggish," he said, The Jerusalem Post reported. "Iran is a theocracy motivated by religion that compels them to purify their faith and have the world submit. The Nazis wanted a master race, and the Iranians want a master religion. People like that cannot be ignored."

“I guarantee you the Jewish people can’t live" with a nuclear Iran, he said. "One Holocaust was enough. There will be war. Why can’t Iran have nuclear weapons? Because Israelis say, 'Never again.'"

The House Democratic delegation is expected to discuss Iran and Ukraine with Israeli officials, according to Haaretz, which reminded readers that she lauded the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal as a "diplomatic masterpiece."

Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chair Lee, who has criticized Israel before, last visited the country in October 2021 through the liberal organization J Street.

Pelosi last visited Israel in 2018 before the country's 70th Independence Day.

The House speaker was criticized in 2020 for endorsing Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) over a primary challenger who was supported by pro-Israel political action committees.