Obama-Netanyahu Relations Never Promised Happily-Ever-After

When President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took office early in 2009, there were plenty of reasons to expect their relationship would be difficult.

The cerebral president and the brash prime minister have stark differences in personality, politics and world view.

Still, few could have predicted the downward spiral of backbiting, lecturing and outright name-calling that has occurred.

Start with the differences between Obama and Netanyahu. Add in disagreements over Iran's nuclear program, a Republican-led Congress that's trying to assert itself and the coming Israeli elections. One expert calls it a perfect storm.

Netanyahu is speaking to a joint meeting of Congress on Tuesday.

(Story by: Nancy Benac, The Associated Press)