Responses so far

* Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren has called it "the worst crisis in 35 years."

ADL National Director Abe Foxman said, "We cannot remember an instance when such harsh language was directed at a friend and ally of the United States. One can only wonder how far the U.S. is prepared to go in distancing itself from Israel in order to placate the Palestinians in the hope they see it is in their interest to return to the negotiating table."

AIPAC called the "escalated rhetoric of recent days" a "distraction from the substantive work that needs to be done," and called on the administration "to take immediate steps to defuse the tension with the Jewish State."

Democratic Congresswoman Shelley Berkeley (D-NV-01) called the administration's moves "an irresponsible overreaction" and "overwrought rhetoric designed to appease Palestinians politicians..."


The Wall Street Journal editors wrote, "Our enemies get courted; our friends get the squeeze. It has happened to Poland, the Czech Republic, Honduras and Colombia. Now it's Israel's turn."

Even the Washington Post reported, "Relations with Israel have been strained almost since the start of the Obama administration. Now they have plunged to their lowest ebb since the administration of George H.W. Bush."