In Unusually Blunt Language —  The Strongest U.S. Rebuke of Israel in More Than 20 Years — Biden  Blasts Israel’s Decision to Build New Housing for Jews in Arab  Neighborhood of East Jerusalem, Warning That They ‘Undermine’ Not Only  Mideast Peace Process, But Also U.S. War Effort in Iraq and Afghanistan

NOT ON THE SAME PAGE — Vice President Joe Biden (left) meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the vice president’s trip last week to Israel and the Palestinian Territories. The grim expressions on their faces tell the story: Biden, angered by Israel’s announcement that it was building new housing for Jews in a predominantly Arab neighborhood of East Jerusalem, reportedly blasted Israeli officials during a private meeting, condemning the decision as “undermining” the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. But the vice president went further, reportedly raising — for the first time — the specter of Israeli actions causing serious problems for U.S. forces fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Photo: Getty Images)

Rarely have relations between the United States and Israel been this testy. But there was Vice President Joe Biden — during a visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories — using unusually blunt language last week to condemn Israel’s decision to build new housing for Jews in predominantly Arab East Jerusalem.

Biden’s remarks were the sharpest rebuke of Israel by the U.S. in more than 20 years — and might signal a new “get-tough” policy by the Obama administration on the volatile issue of Israeli settlements in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian Territories.

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