When Vice President Joe Biden visited the Middle East, with stops scheduled in Israel and with the Palestinians on the West Bank, he was the highest ranking official of the Obama administration to do so. He was there to discuss Israel’s security, the situation in Iran, and personally encourage the resumption of the Israeli/Palestinian peace talks. He had got the backing of the Arab League, and Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas had agreed to a resumption of the talks which had been stalled after Israels attack on Gaza. Special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, was to follow Biden for “proximity talks,” shutting between Israel and the West Bank, to set the stage for the resumption of peace talks. At first, the visit was cordial, but then Israel’s Interior Ministry announced that it was planning to build 1,600 new homes in Arab East Jerusalem, which Israel annexed during the Six Day War, and has been designated as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

Biden condemned the decision, saying it was undermining the peace effort and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Prime Minister Netanyahu and told him that this move was “a deeply negative signal about Israel’s approach to the bilateral relationship.”

The Middle East diplomatic Quarter of peace advisers – the European Union, the United Nations, the US and Russia – also publicly condemned Israel’s decision.

Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas, who had agreed to restart the peace talks, immediately reversed his position, according to the Arab League.

Vice President Biden sought to reassure the Palestinians, saying that they deserved a viable independent state with contiguous territory, and that the US was committed to a final two-state agreement.

An Israeli newspaper quoted by the New York Times bemoaned the fact that the Vice President’s visit was aimed at opening a new chapter in the Obama administration’s relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu as well as demonstrating America’s commitment to Israel’s security and advancing peace in the Middle East. But the announcement of the new settlement plan sabotaged any chance of an agreement and did nothing to contribute to Israel’s security.

Not least, they had insulted a friend.

The Quartet agreed to meet in Moscow to consider how peace talks could be salvaged. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon joined them in Moscow, then travelled to the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Israel.

Mr. Biden had hoped to further the talks and his disappointment was evident. “As we move forward, the United States will hold both sides accountable for any statements or actions that inflame tensions or prejudice the outcome of talks as this decision did,” he told the press.