[Algemeiner] The officials are convinced that President Obama is adamant on cementing a rapprochement with the Iranian regime, engaging them as a regional ally, according to the JC's report. Israel, which sees things differently, has been constantly pushing back on this reversal in the United States' approach towards the Islamic Republic, leading to friction between the sides.Sources close to Netanyahu say that the tensions with the White House are "artificial and contrived," a manufactured crisis to suppress Israeli opposition to a possible Iranian deal, expected to be signed within the next few days.
"The Palestinian issue is a side show," said one Netanyahu aide. "The Americans know as well as we do that there is little hope of going forward with the diplomatic process -- not because of Israel but due to anarchy on the Palestinian side." The aide added that if the Americans "don't succeed in signing a deal with the Iranians, the crisis will quickly pass." However, if a deal were to be signed, "then nothing will help."