Disagreements between the US and Israeli governments have deepened into a serious rift and low-point. "The Wall Street Journal" reports that during Operation Protective Edge, President Barack Obama ordered a halt to a shipment of Hellfire missiles to Israel that the Pentagon had authorized without his approval. According to the report, White House and State Department officials were caught off guard by the extensive use that Israel made of artillery in densely populated areas during the fighting and disappointed that greater use was not made of the more precise weaponry in Israel's arsenal that would have reduced civilian casualties. RELATED ARTICLES Gaza truce extended for five days Defense Ministry mulls UK arms embargo threat Obama signs on Iron Dome emergency aid A senior US administration source told the newspaper that Operation Protective Edge convinced them that the Netanyahu administration is "reckless and untrustworthy." In response to the report, Israel's Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer said, "The allegations are unfounded. Israel deeply appreciates the support we have received during the recent conflict in Gaza from both the Obama administration and the Congress for Israel's right to defend itself and for increased funding of Iron Dome." Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 14, 2014 © Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2014
