Obama losing patience with turbulent ally

In the days since, the Israeli media has taken up the story, most blaming Netanyahu's belligerent attitude for the rift. A high ranking political official, who for obvious reasons wanted anonymity, said the Prime Minister was causing "enormous damage" to the Israel-US relationship which would have "grave consequences" if Obama was reelected.

The official said the Americans believed Netanyahu was trying to "shackle" them to an eventual attack on Iran at a time when the Administration still believed a mixture of sanctions and diplomacy could achieve results.

This has led to an extraordinary rant by the former Likud Defence and Foreign Minister, Moshe Arens in defence of the US-Israel relationship.

Writing in the Haaretz newspaper, Arens described any suggestion that differences between the two leaders could lead to any significant change in the continued US support for Israel as "ridiculous", and reflected "complete ignorance" of the US system of Government.

Wondering whether reports of the rift came as a result of wishful thinking, plain malice or simple ignorance, Arens said commentators were focusing on "yesterday's rhetoric" while ignoring the vast areas of agreement between the two countries.

America and Israel, Arens said, "share common values and ideals and have common strategic interests."

Sadly it may be Arens who is focusing on yesterday's rhetoric, especially when he refers to the common strategic interests. Elsewhere in the article he makes mention of the strong pro-Israeli lobby in Congress, while ignoring the ground roots anti-war movement which, after Iraq and Afghanistan, is firmly against the US becoming involved in any further conflicts.

Of course, if it becomes obvious that Iran is developing a nuclear weapons capability, a military solution could well be the only answer, but the Administration is determined to go to the 11^th hour before ordering an attack while Netanyahu would like the bombers to fly immediately.

One further point rests heavily with Obama as he considerers the actions of his turbulent ally: even if Israel does go it alone and launches a strike, it will be the US that will bear the wrath of the Muslim world. With embassies, consulates and high-profile business interests in virtually every major city on the planet it is it, not Israel that will suffer attacks on its people and property. The recent deaths of the US Ambassador and other officials in Libya and the attack on the embassy in Cairo resulting from the production of an anti-Islamic movie are foretastes of what might come.

If indeed Iran did engineer attacks against the US in the wake of an assault on its nuclear facilities, as it has threatened to do, then it would leave the US little choice other than to retaliate militarily. The resulting scenario is almost too terrible to contemplate.

The fact that Obama was not ready to rearrange his schedule to meet Netanyahu in New York at the United Nations General Assembly later this month, should send a clear message that the President does not want to hear any more demands for an early assault on Iran.

It should now be quite clear to the Israeli Prime Minister that if he orders a premature strike against Iran then he, and he alone, will be responsible for plunging the world into chaos.