However, the meeting quickly became shrouded in controversy. No report was made by the State Department after the event; no public handshake photo-op; no joint press conference.

The next day, only a short, blunt statement came from the White House. They said that differences remain between the U.S. and Israel on the question of expanded settlements around Jerusalem/al-Quds, and that Washington is seeking “clarification” from Tel Aviv on the future construction of these areas.

The Obama administration is still angry over the Mar. 9 announcement, timed to coincide with a visit to Israel by Vice President Biden, of the expansion of Jewish settlements in al-Quds (“East Jerusalem”), which Palestinians see as their occupied capital.

Washington officials said the timing of the announcement was “insulting” and damaged relations between the two states.

However, the White House’s “rift” with Israel at the moment is less about the proposed expansion of settlements themselves (Washington has always given in to Israeli appetites in this area) than it is about the increasing war moves being made against Iran.

Over the last month, European newspapers have reported that the Pentagon has begun moving armaments to the Diego Garcia island citadel used by the U.S. Navy and Marines, including nearly 400 “bunker-buster” bombs. At the same time, the American media, led by the New York Times, is running story after story, based on anonymous “sources” in Pentagon and White House (i.e., Washington propaganda mouthpieces), that Iran is “accelerating” its nuclear development.

In addition, reporters for the Times recently sat in on a war game scenario organized by the Saban Institute, a part of the Brookings Institution, the main Democratic Party think tank.

The movement of munitions, ratcheting up of propaganda and outlining of possible war scenarios exposes the Obama administration’s intent to accelerate its timetable for attacking Iran. There is only one problem with this at the moment, however: Israel’s expansion of settlements could itself spark massive anger and explosions of discontent in the Middle East.

Such a situation, especially given the recent conflicts between Israel and the Hamas-led government in Gaza, and rumors of a third intifada [uprising] being organized in the West Bank, could turn possible U.S. action against Iran into the spark that sets off the entire region in war.

Washington cannot afford that level of instability at this time. It could tank all of American capitalism’s plans to gain greater control of the region, its natural resources and its markets.

Israel’s defiance of Washington could spark a regional war before they are ready, which could result in a military defeat and the need to appeal to their Great Power rivals to end it.