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In what is being called "the slap heard around the world," Israel announced its plan to build new settlements at the site of deadly clashes between Israelis and Palestinians in east Jerusalem. To complicate matters, the announcement came in the middle of Vice President Joe Biden's visit to the country. 

"The decision by the Israeli government to advance planning for new housing units in east Jerusalem undermines that very trust. The trust we need right now in order to begin as well as produce profitable negotiations."

Some worried the V.P.'s rebuke was too harsh, but a CNN correspondent says the countries are too cozy to let the settlements separate them.

"Biden believes that he was able to condemn what Israel had done because they were so close. So, certainly no one believes that this special friendship has been jeopardized in any shape or form."

After initially condemning the plan, the vice president delivered a speech praising Israel. An article in the Christian Science Monitor describes it as "an emotional speech laden with admiration for the Jewish state."

"[The] remarks ... were part of a big American bear hug unparalleled since the Bush administration – and sure to raise question marks throughout the Arab world about the ability of the U.S. to be a neutral mediator in peace talks."

And an article on Newsmax.com says Biden's bear hug may be met with Arab backlash.

"...The vice president's effusive praise for the Jewish state could disappoint those who had hoped he would talk tougher in the wake of the new settlement plan"

And despite his best efforts, Al Jazeera English says the vice president's visit didn't amount to much.

"This visit did not give the peace efforts any momentum, in fact most observers believe this is a moment of crisis and Palestinians are waiting for American action to resolve it."