Israel's Finance Minister Yair Lapid speaks during a joint news conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer, Energy Minister Silvan Shalom and (not pirctured) in Jerusalem June 19, 2013. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should take the heat out of his dispute with U.S. President Barack Obama, his top coalition partner said on Tuesday, warning that the spat over Iran was not helping Israel.
Relations between Israel and Washington, traditionally the closest of allies, have soured over the past month with Netanyahu openly criticising Obama for backing the big powers' interim deal with Iran meant to curb its nuclear activities.
