US, Israel Seek To Defuse Tensions

The tense diplomatic feud that has emerged between the US and Israel following last week's contentious announce of new settlements in Jerusalem during Vice President Joe Biden's visit to the country is showing signs of easing, at least publicly, Israeli paper Haaretz reports.

After making headlines last week for a 43-minute angry phone call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is reportedly planning to speak with Netanyahu today in what is being interpreted as an effort to ease the rift between the two countries.

An administration official told the New York Times that last week's harsh rebuke by Clinton was motivated by feeling that they needed to 'call out' the perceived slight caused by the settlement announcement.

On Tuesday Vice President Biden and Netanyahu spoke by telephone, according to the Times. The nature of their phone call was not revealed.

Yesterday, Clinton also worked to downplay the idea that US-Israeli relations were in a crisis by speaking of the "unshakeable bond" between the two countries