The atmosphere between President Obama and Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been noticeably tense since President Obama delivered
his Middle East speech last Thursday; Prime Minister Netanyahu delivered
his reaction to the president’s remarks. And a meeting between the two
leaders at the White House last Friday seemed to do little to improve the perception, with The Wall Street Journal
noting that the meeting was “viewed
by some as a low point in Washington's relations with the Jewish state.”
Perhaps one area that could potentially strengthen the U.S.-Israeli relationship is around energy security. As both leaders have made pronouncements about the challenges and concerns with their nations’ dependence on fossil fuels, energy security may prove to be fertile ground to engage in greater cooperation and improve good will on both sides.
