"...If Israel remains silent, it would be possible to set a 'timetable' without it looking as if Israel were the one deciding..."

Yediot Acharonoth Via The Pulse, here

"...The Obama administration is extremely angry with Israel. The reason: senior officials in Jerusalem have publicly called upon the US to set a timetable (See Jim Lobe, below) for the dialogue between Washington and Tehran. President Barack Obama intends to discuss the issue with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in the meeting scheduled for the two on Monday at the White House.

"I think it's not appropriate at this time to be trying to establish timetables for this, but rather, to see how the engagement can move forward," said Mike Hammer, spokesperson for the National Security Council. This was said in the wake of calls by senior members of Netanyahu's government to limit the talks with Iran until a specified date. This is so that Tehran does not try to buy time that will enable it to move forward in its nuclear program.

These statements created the impression on the international scene that Israel was intervening and trying to influence the dialogue that President Obama intends to launch with Iran. We understand the concern in Israel, said a White House source, but we cannot agree to it publicly, because it would disrupt the negotiations. Sources in Washington said this week that if Israel were to remain silent, it would be possible to set a timetable without it looking as if Israel were the one deciding on the parameters for negotiation between the US and Iran.

CIA Director Leon Panetta held a secret visit to Israel two and a half weeks ago. The visit was intended to ensure that Israel did not intend to surprise the US administration with a sudden strike against Iran. This was Panetta's first working visit to Israel since taking office about two months ago. The CIA director was the guest of Mossad Director Meir Dagan and met with top Israeli leaders: Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi and heads of the intelligence community, who hosted him for a festive dinner.

The CIA assessments have great weight in the formulation of policy by US President Barack Obama, and Panetta's visit at this timing was also preparation for Netanyahu's first visit to Washington. The Americans are greatly troubled by the implications of Netanyahu's positions for the Iranian threat and the comparison of the threat to the Holocaust-which raises concerns on their part that the prime minister is leading Israel to a military strike. Panetta explained the rationale behind Obama's initiative for dialogue with Iran, and its chances of persuading the Iranians to abandon their plans for a military nuclear program. An Israeli strike against Iran would be disastrous for the stability of the region-this is what the Americans believe, and it was also made clear during Panetta's visit..."