US State Department Spokesman Philip J. Crowley reemphasized US commitment to the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state and the Obama administration's backing of the issue as a core demand in negotiations.
"We recognize the special nature of the Israeli state. It is a state for the Jewish people," he said.
Crowley said the US doesn't "just want to push the can down the road two months," but rather achieve a clear path that allows Israel and the Palestinians to continue the peace process.
"We want to create a clear path that allows the parties to begin the arduous process of addressing the core issues one by one with the intention of reaching a successful negotiation within a year's time," Crowley said.
