In June 2008, candidate Barack Obama spoke before thousands of delegates to the pro-Israel lobbying group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, to assuage concerns that he harbored animosity toward the Jewish state. In a paragraph of his speech that began with the phrase “Let me be clear,” Obama declared that under his vision for peace, “Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided.” The next day, after the statement triggered fierce criticism from Palestinian leaders, Obama backtracked. The reversal was an early signal of what has become a pattern during his presidency — professing profound support for Israel when it suits him, only to reverse himself when it comes to actual policy.

When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the United States this week, President Obama won’t meet with him — even as the administration plays a dangerous diplomatic game with Iran. Though administration officials would like to write off the current tension between the United States and Israel as being specific to Netanyahu and his decision to speak to Congress, the reality suggests that it’s a product of a broader concerted effort by Obama to rupture the relationship between the two allies.