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A day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu鈥檚 unusually caustic criticism of the US, Israel鈥檚 most important ally, tensions between the two nations have risen as the feud spilled into the media.

The Israeli leader chastised the US for not setting a "clear red line鈥� for when it would take military action to strike Iran鈥檚 nuclear program. He added that the US had no 鈥渕oral right鈥� to stop Israel from attacking Iran鈥檚 nuclear program.

Meanwhile, the White House has denied reports that President Barack Obama turned down Mr. Netanyahu鈥檚 request for a meeting.

The row may indicate that different opinions on the immediacy of the threat posed by Iran have pushed Mr. Obama and Netanyahu apart, and the Israeli prime minister is now seeking to pressure the US by dragging the issue into the public forum as the US presidential elections near.

鈥淸T]here is a suspicion that Netanyahu is seeking to use the US election to bounce Obama into committing to early military action against Iran or is trying to influence Jewish American votes in favour of the more hawkish Republican candidate, Mitt Romney by suggesting the president is jeopardising Israel's security,鈥� writes the Guardian鈥檚 Chris McGreal.

This strategy may backfire, however, and work to the benefit of Iran, reports The Los Angeles Times. Despite the recent rhetoric, Israel and the US have most of the same beliefs. If diplomatic feuds keep them at odds, it may make the situation easier for Iran by weakening the alliance of those who oppose it.

鈥淏oth the US and Israel are seeing an escalatory pattern to statements from the other, and interpreting the worst to the other side's political intentions, even if there is a case to be made that both sides actually have a preference to be on the same page,鈥� said David Makovsky, a Middle East analyst at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy in an article by The LA Times. 鈥淭his is tragic and .鈥�

Following comments in the media from Israeli officials that Obama had turned down requests for a meeting in the US during a United Nations conference later this month, Obama phoned Netanyahu last night to reassure Israel of his commitment to working together on the Iran issue,聽The Jerusalem Post reports.

鈥淧resident Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu in their determination to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,鈥� said the White House in a statement. 鈥淭丑别re was never a request for Prime Minister Netanyahu to meet with President Obama in Washington, nor was a request for a meeting ever denied."

Within Israel, some politicians are now questioning the prime minister鈥檚 conduct with Washington. In unusually sharp remarks yesterday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said his nation鈥檚 alliance with the US is too important to risk compromising in a bout of political gamesmanship.

鈥淭丑别 United States is and despite the differences on [Iran] and the importance of keeping Israel's ability to operation independently, we must also keep in mind the strategic importance of the partnership with the United States, and refrain from hurting it,鈥� he said in an article by YNetNews.

Other Israeli political figures have also questioned the wisdom of embracing a 鈥渞ed line鈥� policy with Israel. Most recently former Israeli Defense Force Chief of Staff Dan Halutz spoke out against Netanyahu鈥檚 position during remarks in Washington DC this week, reports Haaretz.

鈥�, because when you鈥檙e stating something at time one, it might not be the same at time two,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen you are saying red line, you鈥檙e claiming you can draw a line based on what the other side is doing... when it comes to the decision, someone will come up with an excuse."