ByAnshel Pfeffer, Anshel Pfeffer
Israeli leaders remain deeply sceptical of US intentions on the eve of the deadline to reach an agreement on Iran's nuclear programme.
Despite repeated US assurances that Iran will not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon and reports that no progress was made in the round of talks this week, the current assessment in Jerusalem is that the Obama administration is determined to reach a deal at any price.
According to both American and Iranian sources, the intensive two-day round of talks in Oman, which ended on Monday night, failed to achieve a breakthrough.
The talks were attended by US State Secretary John Kerry, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammed Jawad Zarif and Baroness Catherine Ashton who, despite ending her term as the EU's foreign policy chief last month, is still leading the negotiations on behalf of the P5+1 group of world powers.
Low-level talks continued in Oman throughout the week and the sides are to meet again next week in Vienna in a last-ditch effort to reach an agreement before the November 25 deadline.
Jerusalem believes Barack Obama wants a deal at any price
In recent days, the Americans have tried to convince Israel and its supporters that they intend to drive a tough bargain with the Iranians. President Barack Obama said in a TV interview on Sunday that an agreement may not be signed by the deadline due to the "big gap" remaining between the sides.
Mr Kerry called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday night to personally update him on the Oman talks. Mr Kerry brought up a tweet made on Sunday by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of a plan to "eliminate" Israel, calling it "shocking and unacceptable".
At this point, however, it is unlikely that the administration has put Mr Netanyahu's mind at rest. Israeli officials have said in recent days that the defeat of the Democratic Party in last week's midterm elections have only made Mr Obama more determined to pursue his foreign policy objectives - and a diplomatic breakthrough with Iran is central to his plans.
There have been various leaks about a tentative agreement that would allow Iran to continue using 5,000 centrifuges for enriching uranium, which Israel would consider a "win" for Iran and its nuclear ambitions.
The Wall Street Journal revealed last week that Mr Obama had sent Ayatollah Khamenei a personal letter, without updating the Israeli government, regarding possible US-Iran co-operation in fighting Islamic State.
This only heightened the Israeli suspicion that the two sides are on the verge of signing a deal that will leave Iran able to build nuclear weapons.