"Make a counter-offer, ... But we recognize Israel as, you know, a Jewish, you know, ...state!"

"...Speaking in Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley made clear Washington wanted the Palestinians to make some kind of counter-proposal to Netanyahu.

"Prime Minister Netanyahu has offered his thoughts on both what he's willing to contribute to the process, what he thinks he needs for his people out of the process, we would hope that the Palestinians would do the same thing," he told reporters.

The spokesman also offered support for Netanyahu's stance, saying the United States regarded Israel as a Jewish state.

"We recognize that Israel, you know, is a -- as it says itself -- is a Jewish state," Crowley said.

U.S. officials have long spoken of the Jewish character of Israel ...."