The chemistry between Netanyahu and Obama has never been good. It’s not a matter of personalities. It’s a clash of realities—the two men see the world differently. Obama believes the best way to protect Israel—and broader American interests—is to get a deal that will curtail Iran’s uranium enrichment, cut its stockpile of fuel, convert its facilities, and require intrusive daily inspections.  

Selling nuclear diplomacy with Iran was perhaps the toughest job at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's annual conference this year -- second only to shepherding teenage attendees to the AIPAC selfie wall. Still, one gutsy former adviser to President Barack Obama decided to give it a shot -- and soon realized he might have been better off handing out selfie sticks.

Israeli social media exploded Wednesday and Thursday in reaction to a tweet by Benjamin Netanyahu, in which the prime minister attempted to shift focus from the findings of a state report on the country’s housing crisis to Iran’s nuclear program
 

Cooperation between the two nations was ramped up over a decade ago, but the Indian government preferred to keep a low profile, until now. An image published on Wednesday morning depicts an ongoing strategic development: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seen visiting the Israel Aerospace Industries exhibit at the Aero India exhibition in Bangalore.

Israelis recognize that the relationship between their country and the United States government has gone downhill under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but don’t believe the strained ties have seriously damaged their connection to U.S. Jewry, according to a newly released poll by the Ruderman Family Foundation.

The Prime Minister’s Office has recently issued a tender for setting up a new Internet site for “government news.” Observers and officials said the new site is intended mainly for public diplomacy and marketing. Sources familiar with the details said the site will have “considerable power to serve for PR purposes.”

The Prime Minister’s Office uses employees from the National Public Diplomacy Division’s information and communications technology department to monitor the Israeli media for items about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife, Sara, and their children, Haaretz has learned.From internal documents, emails and conversations with current and former department employees, it emerges that flagging down reports on Sara Netanyahu or the family’s private affairs is an even higher priority than collecting news items on diplomatic, security or economic issues.

As long as the PM plays the security-political card while ignoring the country's real problems, he’s only helping his campaign – especially if he succeeds in bickering with the Obama administration. Meanwhile, a Likud-Habayit Hayehudi merger looks increasingly possible.