Anne Penketh: Netanyahu Plays Down Rift with Obama!e

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu played down a rift with President Barack Obama over the timing of possible military strikes against Iran, suggesting that Israel and the United States are so united that their policies are indistinguishable. "We are you. And you are us," said the Prime Minister in an unexpected remark designed to underscore the closeness of the two allies said Mr Netanyahu. "Iran's leaders know that too. For them you are the Great Satan and we are the Little Satan. For them we are you and you are us. We're together. Israel and America stand together." Echoing comments from his speech on Sunday to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), President Obama spoke about the "rock solid" commitment to Israel. "The United States will always Israel's back when it comes to Israel's security," he said. The public show of unity by both leaders is clearly aimed at raising the diplomatic pressure on Iran. They want to convince the Iranian leadership that the United States is not bluffing when Obama says that military force to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapons capability remains an option. The President specifically mentioned that a "military effort" is part of US contingency planning, in a speech to the pro-Israeli group AIPAC on Sunday. However, the two leaders could not conceal their their policy differences. Netanyahu made it clear that Israel must remain "master of its own fate." He picked up on a reference in President Obama's speech in which he had appeared to accept the possibility of unilateral strikes on Iran by Israel. "It must have the ability to defend itself, by itself, against any threat," Netanyahu stressed.