Wednesday, 3 June 2009

Israelis fear unravelling of US alliance

By Tobias Buck in Jerusalem

Published: June 2 2009 13:26 | Last updated: June 2 2009 13:26

The latest tensions between Washington and the new right-wing Israeli government are sparking concern bordering on alarm among Israeli officials and analysts, amid suspicions that the formerly-rock-solid alliance is unravelling.

Disagreement between Barack Obama, the US president, and Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has been particularly pronounced on the issue of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. The US leader has urged Israel repeatedly to stop expanding its settlements on occupied land, arguing that they present a big obstacle to peace in the region.