U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin “Bibi” Netanyahu may not have embraced as long-lost friends on the White House portico this week, but what’s being dubbed their “make up” summit went smoothly. And that’s good for all concerned about the Jewish state, as well as all Americans.

It is no secret that until now Mr. Obama has poorly handled the public side of his differences with Mr. Netanyahu. Meanwhile, Israel’s leader at best could not control his domestic partners’ actions when it came to ill-timed announcements relating to the building of homes for Jews in East Jerusalem.  But this week a different tone seemed to resonate.

As Mr. Obama said, a smiling Mr. Netanyahu at his side, “Israel has unique security requirements. It has to be able to respond to threats or any combination of threats in the region. And that’s why we remain unwavering in our commitment to Israel’s security. And the United States will never ask Israel to take any steps that would undermine their security interests.”

For his part, Mr. Netanyahu gave the American what he wanted – a continued pledge to stay the course in negotiating with the Palestinians, an unpopular stand with some Netanyahu coalition partners. The Israeli also thanked the American for having the U.S. administration conduct “proximity talks” with the Palestinians – acting as a go between. And Mr. Netanyahu yet again called on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to meet him in face-to-face negotiations, which indeed should occur.

With all that in mind, one hopes the theatre of hysteria – Obama hates Bibi, Bibi hates Obama, etc. – is now at an end. After all, the task at hand is both clear: The two democratic allies must work together to confront an emerging nuclear Iran, whose aspirations if achieved would exponentially increase Tehran’s ability to blackmail nations and create international mischief. For both leaders, that vital mission must be understood as far more urgent and important than even the remotest desire to score political points at home or abroad.