Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Friday to give him a tongue-thrashing over Israel's plans to construct 1,600 new homes in disputed East Jerusalem, and made sure her spokesman let the whole world know it.

Clinton's reported tough talk hardened the impression of a sharp downturn in U.S.-Israeli ties, which were already tense, but made worse by Israel's decision to move forward with the construction, announced while Vice President Joe Biden was visiting this week.

At the top of his daily briefing, spokesman P.J. Crowley told reporters that Clinton spoke by phone to Netanyahu "to reiterate the United States’ strong objections to Tuesday’s announcement, not just in terms of timing, but also in its substance; to make clear that the United States considers the announcement a deeply negative signal about Israel’s approach to the bilateral relationship – and counter to the spirit of the Vice President’s trip; and to reinforce that this action had undermined trust and confidence in the peace process, and in America’s interests."

"The Secretary said she could not understand how this happened, particularly in light of the United States’ strong commitment to Israel’s security.  And she made clear that the Israeli Government needed to demonstrate not just through words but through specific actions that they are committed to this relationship and to the peace process," Crowley continued.

That's the toughest rebuke from a senior U.S. official toward Israel in recent memory.

To parse the language a bit, Clinton was clearly saying that the Israeli move did not just hurt the peace process, it potentially undermined ties with the United States.

The move in East Jerusalem was announced by the Ministry of Interior, controlled by the right-wing Shas party. Israeli officials insist Netanyahu had no forewarning of it himself. The Israeli government has apologized for the timing, but not for the plans for new building in East Jerusalem, which Israel considers part of its undivided capital.

For Clinton, that was clearly not enough, as she made clear that Washington objects "not just in terms of timing, but also in ... substance."

Clinton's call was followed, in diplomatic choreography, by a joint statement from the diplomatic "Quartet"--the United States, United Nations, Russia and European Union--which coordinates diplomacy on the Israeli-Palestinian front.

It said in part: "The Quartet condemns Israel’s decision to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem.  The Quartet has agreed to closely monitor developments in Jerusalem and to keep under consideration additional steps that may be required to address the situation on the ground."

Tough talk, indeed. Will the Obama administration follow up with concrete steps to punish Israel? We'll see.