Israel-U.S. Relations Frayed Over Middle East Threats

[Purveyor]

JERUSALEM – A draft deal with Iran on its nuclear program that Israel asserted would imperil its very existence is the latest sign that Israel and longtime ally the United States are as far apart as ever on how to deal with growing threats in the Middle East.

Analysts say the Obama administration needs to take Israel's fears seriously, while the White House insists it is doing what is best for the security of Israel, the United States and the Middle East.

Aaron David Miller, a former U.S. peace negotiator who has advised Democratic and Republican secretaries of State, said the rift may cause problems for the United States on multiple fronts, including a risk of dragging the United States into war with Iran.

"How this will play out is not clear," Miller said. "I find it almost unimaginable this administration would conclude even an interim agreement with (Iranian President Hassan) Rouhani that left Israel angry and aggrieved and the relationship in even worse shape."

Miller said Israeli frustration with the United States may have been greater at points in the past but he'd never seen Israeli ire expressed as publicly as has been done in recent days by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Headlines in the Israeli press seem to agree.

MORE...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/11/10/israel-us-relations-iran/3488455/

[Lobo27]

1. What I've never understood about nuclear talks with other countries.

Is how we tell them you can't have nukes but we can. I fully understand that the regimes of some countries are so radical that having a nuke would be horrible.

But I believe it to be a losing argument for a country that has nukes and has used them to tell others you can't have any. Some might see me a sympathizer or whatever, but the point I'm trying to make is that its a losing argument.