On face value, US-Israeli relations appear to be at an all-time low. Strong points of disagreement between the two countries are threatening to rise to the surface.
The two new administrations do not seem to agree about which issue needs to be dealt with first in the Middle East - the Palestinian conflict or the Iranian nuclear controversy.
The US has urged the new Israeli far-right government to accept a 'two-state' solution and work for the creation of a Palestinian state, which is a continuation of the former Bush administration's agenda that was not put into practice.
US President Barack Obama, contrary to the Israeli government's wish, is a strong supporter of the 'two-state' solution. Obama has articulated that publicly. The Israelis, on the other hand, wish to maintain the status quo and continue building new colonies, especially now that Avigdor Lieberman has become Israel's foreign minister.
The Obama administration, meanwhile, is on its way to starting new, direct talks with Tehran, without preconditions related to its nuclear programme and other US interests in the region.
The US has taken the military option off the table, at least for the time being, while Israel regards the Iranian nuclear programme as a major threat in the Middle East.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was to meet Obama in Washington yesterday, for the first time.
This visit comes as a means to persuade Obama about the significance of the Iranian threat, which will top the agenda. In Netanyahu's view, the Iranian issue is far more important than the Middle East peace process.
The Zionist movement laid the grounds for this meeting to exert pressure on the US administration. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee held its annual meeting on May 3. About 6,000 activists attended the meeting, in addition to a number of US Congressmen and present and former Israeli officials.
Israeli President Shimon Perez also met with Obama and expressed Netanyahu's wish to accept the 'road map' for peace, rather than the 'two-state' solution.
At the same time, Lieberman kicked off his first European tour in an attempt to gain allies to back Israel's position regarding the Iranian nuclear threat.
The US, for its part, has started putting pressure on Israel indirectly, while offering the Jewish state many incentives. The UN Security Council issued a statement on May 11, calling for "renewed and urgent efforts" to achieve "a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East" on the basis of the 'two-state' solution.
Drafted by Russia, the statement - a step short of a resolution, which must be complied with - was approved at the end of an open council debate.
The pope has now joined the US, the EU, Russia, the 27-member Arab League and the Muslim world in the peace effort.
As the leader of the Catholic world, he has essentially committed one billion Catholics to improving the plight of the Palestinian people and protecting their human rights.
Israel regards a nuclear Iran or any other nuclear state in the region, as a major threat to its national security on several levels.
Israel fears a reduction in immigration as a result of nuclear proliferation in the region. It is also afraid of people emigrating from Israel, shrinking foreign investments, moderate Israeli politicians becoming hardliners and a decline in the chances of peace with Syria.
Israel is also worried that other countries in the region will find themselves obliged to develop nuclear capabilities to balance that of Iran, leading to a nuclear arms race.
The US has also found itself in a difficult position after warming up to Iran. Dennis Ross, a senior US foreign policy advisor, has stated that the US has not changed its position towards Iran. This statement will not ease Israel's worries, as the US-Iranian talks will not start before October, which leaves Iran with ample time to develop its nuclear programme.
There are several indications that the US will continue with the former Bush administration's position on the Middle East, as it is preoccupied with problems elsewhere.
Obama has exerted tremendous pressure recently on Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai to launch a major offensive against the Taliban strongholds in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. The Obama administration also extended sanctions imposed on Syria for another year.
Hence, the US president is not likely to put too much pressure on Israel. While ties may be strained at present, it is always the Palestinian side that ends up paying dearly.
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