Update: it was inevitable. Israel has apologized:

BREAKING: Israel MoD Yaalon apologizes for his statements against SecState Kerry — Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) January 14, 2014

Just when you thought US foreign policy under John Kerry couldn't plumb new lows, here comes Israel, mocking... John Kerry.

Yaalon quoted by "Yediot Aharonot" saying: only thing that could "save" #Israel is for Kerry to win Nobel Peace Prize and "leave us alone." — Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) January 14, 2014

But it wasn't Israel's mocking of Kerry that was embarrassing: after Syria, Israel is hardly a big fan of Hillary's replacement who brought the Middle East to the verge of a YouTube clip fabricated war, and then promptly slank back to his yacht. It was the spirited White House defense. To wit from Reuters:

The White House on Tuesday denounced reported comments by Israel's defense minister that were sharply critical of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. White House spokesman Jay Carney responded to reports that Israeli military Moshe Yaalon said Kerry's pursuit of Middle East peace is out of an "incomprehensible obsession and a messianic feeling." "To question Secretary Kerry's motives and distort his proposals is not something we would expect from the defense minister of a close ally," Carney said.

Well, dear "Jay", while the US is stuck manipulating the stock market in its 5th year of attempting to trickle down the wealth effect, and defending Obama's disastrous insurance ponzi scheme legacy, China (and increasingly Russia) are dividing up the world among them: from Africa, to Syria, to everywhere else, all the while soaking up all the gold that is not nailed down. So by all means - be prepared for more surprises.

As for Kerry's "messianic feeling" - was anyone actually surprised?