THE MEETING – AT 10:05 A.M. ET:  Big meeting today between President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  The two can't stand each other, and I think Obama's devotion to the security of Israel is about as great as his devotion to other American allies.  They all feel the chill.

The advance word is that the two antagonists will try to get beyond their bitter disagreement over the Iran nuclear deal.  You may be sure that Hillary is putting heat on the White House not to get into another scrap with Israel, as she needs the support of the pro-Israel community, which isn't completely sold on her.  From WaPo: 

President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will seek to move beyond the nasty public clash over the Iran nuclear deal and restore a more transactional approach to the U.S.-Israeli relationship — including delicate conversations about possible expansion of military aid — when they meet in Washington on Monday.

Though they have sharply differing views on how to handle the current geopolitics of the Middle East and a history of sour relations, Obama and Netanyahu both are looking to set a course for the last year of the Obama presidency, which will also represent another critical period for Israeli security.

The leaders plan to discuss how to counter Iranian aid to Hezbollah and Hamas; the Russian and Iranian efforts to prop up Syrian President Bashar ­al-Assad; and steps that might demonstrate Netanyahu’s commitment to a two-state solution even in the absence of negotiations with the Palestinian Authority.

The most tangible piece of the agenda, however, is a 10-year memorandum of understanding on military cooperation between the two countries that would budget aid and lock in a plan for new weaponry to deal with what the administration agrees is a “dangerous neighborhood.”

The two leaders are being propelled by different forces. By reaffirming support for Israel’s security, Obama is seeking to reassure Democrats who reluctantly backed the Iran deal despite their strong support for Israel and misgivings about the nature of the Iranian regime.

COMMENT:  Ever since the Iran deal was finalized, Iran has been on its worst behavior, with regular verbal attacks on the United States.  Some Democrats, facing election next year, are already distancing themselves from a deal they voted for. 

Netanyahu, highly regarded as a spokesman for Israel, and for freedom generally, is also a less-than-stellar diplomat.  Obama, of course, is no diplomat at all.  This should be a very interesting meeting.  It's made more interesting by the fact that Netanyahu spent his early years in the United States, whereas Obama spent his early years in Indonesia. 

November 9, 2015