The media and various commentators are working hard to convince the public that there is a growing difference between Israel and the US over how to handle Iran. The headline refers to a news conference with US Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, where they did not say exactly the same thing.
The talk of differences, however, is all baloney. What we have here is a classic case of good-cop/bad-cop. The US tries to inveigle Iran into negotiations and Israel rattles sabers. The two sides support the single, agreed-to aim of bringing Iran to its knees. The US and Israel agree that Iran cannot be allowed to become a pole of attraction in the mideast, and cannot be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.
At the present time the US Mideast Envoy, the National Security Advisor, the White House Mideast Advisor, and Gates are in Israel. They are not there to take in the sights or make a religious pilgrimage. This concentration of American decision-makers in Israel can only mean they are there to discuss the next steps in the confrontation with Iran.
Israel may be a little nervous because it seems to some of their leaders that Washington is over-playing its good-cop role, but don't be fooled -- each side knows exactly what the other is doing.
The media's cry of differences sells papers and programs, but it greatly exaggerates what are just tactical differences.
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