Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman (Yisrael Beytenu) recalled that in one of their last meetings in Washington, McCain showed him a photograph from his time in captivity."He told me that throughout his horrible suffering, he never had doubts about his values of freedom and justice," Liberman said. Intelligence Services Minister Israel Katz (Likud) said McCain’s passing caused him great sorrow and that he “was a true American hero, in war as in peace.”Former Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar (Likud) said McCain’s death was “a great loss to America and its allies.”“John McCain was not only an American hero, but a hero to many all over the world,” opposition leader Tzipi Livni wrote on Twitter. “Standing up for his values, he showed us the way a true leader should act. Honorable and courageous. Israel is grateful for his support. We will all miss the great man that he was.”John McCain was a true patriot and a true friend of Israel. may he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/tBtCDUG24K
— איילת שקד (@Ayelet__Shaked) August 26, 2018
MK Ofer Shelah (Yesh Atid) called McCain “an American hero, a model of integrity and a true friend of Israel.” He praised McCain’s sense of humor, wisdom and values.“This is what a private figure should be,” Shelah said.Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Avi Dichter (Likud), who met regularly with McCain, as he was considered his counterpart in the Senate, called him “a smart, sharp thinker, who was determined on matters of security and was always fascinating.”Dichter said McCain was a big supporter of legislation that cut the amount of aid to the Palestinian Authority that is then given to terrorists and their families. That legislation was passed into US law before a similar bill passed in Israel with McCain’s strong encouragement.“McCain served his country in and out of uniform for over 60 years, with unending loyalty and dedication, and was a national symbol,” former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon wrote on Twitter. “McCain was a true friend of Israel and had a deep understanding of our national security issues. This reflected in his huge contribution to maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge through years of assistance and hard work.”Herb Keinon and Greer Fay Cashman contributed to this report.John McCain was not only an American hero, but a hero to many all over the world.Standing up for his values, he showed us the way a true leader should act. Honorable and courageous. Israel is grateful for his support. We will all miss the great man that he was.
— ציפי לבני (@Tzipi_Livni) August 26, 2018