The US and Israel: How Deep Are the Differences?

When Vice President Biden was in Israel last week, the Netanyahu government announced new plans for Jewish housing in East Jerusalem. The city was quiet today after yesterday's "Day of Rage," by Palestinians protesting the announced Israeli construction plans. In public, the US and Israel are exchanging warm words, but tensions are high, and Israel has yet to respond to US demands that the plans be reversed. Did Prime Minister Netanyahu want to sandbag Biden? Was President Obama looking for a way to get tough with Israel? What does it all have to do with peace talks, Iran, American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and US credibility in the Middle East?