Israel is supposed to be negotiating with the "Palestinians". It's fine for the US to state it, but we are still waiting for the Arabs to say it. Until then, no dice.

Israel is a Jewish state. It's not as if this is some new concept. Maybe Abbas just needs to catch up with the rest of the world and accept that fact. If he's in any doubt he only has to look at the UN partition plan of 1947 which was passed by a majority of UN member states declaring a Jewish state in what became Israel

That said, let us not forget that the statement issued from the State Department, not the President, and let us also not forget that we are in the run-up to the midterm elections. The White House is getting desperate. Still, Abbas HAS to be smarting over this one! Unless he's simply too stupid to recognize a sea change when he sees one. Looks like the ball is in Abbas' court. May as well keep building in the settlements; "Palestinian" internal politics being what they are, Abbas will never recognize the State of Israel as a Jewish state. Tough luck, Salma ... Nour ... Seadog .... Split .... Batty Droves .... Observer .... Resistor ..... MikeSailor .... don't take it TOO badly. There never was going to be a "Palestinian" state in Judea and Samaria, anyway.

Actually, the Palestinians would not lose anything except perhaps a bit of pride, temporarily, by making the concession that Israel is a Jewish state. Given the trend of events in the Middle East and worldwide, it won't be around to plague us much longer. So let the Zionists have their little petty triumph.

It's a question of culture. More children for you might mean more financial burden. More children for us means more happiness and a sign of abundance. Cultural difference abound - the one-state is not a conspiracy theory but an inevitability. Who would have thought that the "underdogs" would win in the end? God bless Palestine - the land of abundance.

Definite encouragement had been given to the Zionists by the Allies in Mr. Balfour's often quoted statement, in its approval by other representatives of the Allies. If, however, the strict terms of the Balfour Statement are adhered to-favoring "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine"—it can hardly be doubted that the extreme Zionist Program must be greatly modified. For a "national home for the Jewish people" is not equivalent to making Palestine into a Jewish State; nor ran the erection of such a Jewish State be accomplished without the gravest trespass upon the "civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine." (the American King-Crane Commission,1919). Read it carefully; the US State Department never said that Israel is Jewish state.

If we are expected to believe the US supports the palestinians recognizing Israel as a jewish state then lets have Obama personally make an official statement saying that he supports Bibi's demand. Philip Crowley is not a politician he is just an advisor who the president is free to say you support Bibis demand but I don't.. I get the feeling right now Obama wants to stop a complete breakdown of talks but not push Israel to hard right now but when the midterms are over he will support Abbas in all his demands and tell Bibi play ball or I am going to hurt Israel. He still has at least 1 year to hurt Israel before he has to start courting the US jews for the 2012 election because sadly the jews have a short memory on election day. Philip Crowleys statement is the test for Obama see if he wants to be an independent broker who believes in give and take or if he intends talks to be based on what Abbas wants I will see to it Abbas gets and israel can go to hell.

No, more children for "Palestinians" means more cannon fodder: rock-throwers, human shields, suicide bombers and terrorists. "Happiness and a sign of abundance." Yeah, right. Whom do you think you are fooling (besides yourselves, that is)?

No one is expectimg somme one whit the polish name like yours to understand the jewish problem ,it is only 70 years since Auswitchem.

All of you who want to hear these words from the PLO before re instituting the building freeze .Are you so convinced that these are people who keep their word or are only saying what is expedient to further their position? Get real, they've never told the truth about anything except wanting to destroy Israel..

Sarah #3 is right. Obama's State Department is pandering to the American Jewish community for votes and financial support. Mid term elections are mere weeks away and then Obama will be campaigning for re-election, 2012. Obama has proven he is a dedicated Israel-hater. Quoting YNet last month: "Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas answered a (request) by Israel to recognize it as a Jewish state somewhat sardonically, saying that as far as he was concerned, "Israel can call itself… the Jewish-Zionist Empire". What difference does it make what the "Palestinians" recognize or refuse to recognize? Why is PM Netanyahu obsessed over this issue unless he wants to give our land to Israel's enemies? For those of us who refuse to give away one inch of our precious Jewish land, the "Palestinians" can call Israel the "Jewish-Zionist Empire" if they wish. God-willing, one day Israel will indeed be an empire, like David's empire; and then some!

maybe pigs will fly soon because obama finally got something right in the middle east .. if the palestinians wants a settlement freeze, let them pony up for it .. and the remark that bibi has every right to ask for something when he gives something says that maybe the US hasa figured out that demands will not bring peace, only compromise will. The real issue here is arab rejectionism .. all we ever get from them is no and more no .. well this speech finally puts them on notice that they need to give to get ... unfortunatley, i doubt they will, abbas and the rest of those clowns are too afraid of iran and little hitler to do anything bold ... can someone please tell me where the palestinain mandella is hiding .. come out ,come out ,wherever you are

Yes .... and .... No. Some editorial comment in the U.S. media has suggested that this is Obama's way of informing Abbas that this IS United States policy without necessarily humiliating Abbas, who is fighting to keep control of the PA anyway. There is no way that the State Department would issue such a statement without the approval of the president. Besides, this has been out there for several hours now, and the White House has not issued a retraction. Maximally -- it is tacit acknowledgment that Netanyahu's quid pro quo is not at all unreasonable. Or it is perhaps acknowledgment on the part of the current administration that Abbas has overplayed his hand and is asking for too much. Me personally -- I think that Bibi simply refused to back down. The White House had no choice.

That's the point! Abbas will never do it, because it would be tantamount to signing his death warrant. Not to mention the fact that to do so would wreak havoc within the "Palestinian" community, which is already terribly fragmented. Of course we know they have never backed away from their charters, which call for the destruction of the State of Israel and the extermination and/or expulsion of the Jewish people. What do you want to bet that that will be Netanyahu's ancillary demand? After all, it stands to reason that if you recognize Israel as a Jewish state, you are tacitly acknowledging the right of the State of Israel to exist in its ancient homeland. That's why Abbas will never do it. It would amount to refuting everything the "Palestinian" people have stood for since 1948 -- which would leave them with nothing. Bibi has endplayed Abbas very, very nicely. Abbas and the "Palestinian" people may not realize it yet, but the statement out of Washington DC today sounded the death knell for a Palestinian state. If Bibi wanted to seal the victory, he would immediately act to annex Judea and Samaria -- BEFORE the mid-term elections -- and order the repatriation of the "Palestinians" living there to Jordan, country of their citizenship. With just compensation, of course. Sweet. Really, really sweet.

nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine"

You note the provision of the Balfour statement that "nothing should be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of the non-Jewish communities in Palestine." And Israel has remained consistent with that statement. What you are asking for, in contrast, is NATIONAL rights, for the Arabs, which are nowhere mentioned.. Of course Balfour was just a statement of British intent. The legally governing law is the League of Nations Mandate of 1922 which granted rights to the Jews to establish a homeland on the territory extending to the Jordan River.

The Jewish homeland existed long before Jew-hating creeps inhabited earth and will continue to thrrive long after people like you have left this world.

The Walter Mitty syndrome seems to have well and truly gotten hold of you and your "people". You haven't existed until you were invented in 1967. You are being used as a tool to attempt to disrupt the progress of the Jews in their 3000+ year old land, because life is cheap when you're not wanted, in their attempt to cover up their embarassment for being left in the 7th century, while Israel is leading, the 21st. You have contributed absolutely nothing and neither have you accomplished anything, ever. Your very survival and support is only a convenient bargaining tool for your oil producing brothers, whose product has twisted the West's reasoning capabilities. Whatever mistakes Israel makes, rest assured it will not be to the extent you are dreaming of.

the Zionists are going to have a lot more (not so) petty triumphs. Hee,Hee,Heeee......!!!

Counting our chickens before they hatch, are we? Palestine, land of abundance-you're so full of crap, it's coming out of your ears, sweetheart.

ISRAEL MUST BE A SAFE IRON CLAD SAFE SANCTUARY FOR THE FULL AND VARIED LIFE OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE THIRTEEN MILLILON IN NUMBER FIVE AND A HALF MILLION IN ISRAEL.THE JEWS MUST MAINTAIN INSURMONTABLE OFFENSE AND DETRRANCE WITH ALL THEIR MIGHT ALLTHEIR HEART AND ALL THEIR SOUL.

What does jewish mean? Throughout the centuries the existence of the state depended upon the loyalty of its citizens to the constitution given on Mount Sinai which seems to have been rejected and denied by many of its citizens. What good will oaths do? How should a citizen show his loyalty to his country\?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFtv5qe5o3c

of its neighbour Israel as a Jewish state. The stupid EU & Obama should not even think about a uni-lateral declaration of a Pals state because it will only be hanging a millstone around their necks for all eternity. Once they create that state they will be fully responsible for it forever, given the background of the whole messy affair. Make the Pals act responsibly first. No cutting of corners because that will cause more trouble in the long term. Better believe it. First step, recognition of Israel as a Jewish state. Let them show their peaceful intentions.

Any jew irrespective of his beliefs must be a primary citizen of Israel. In the sense that all physical desendants of Israel MUST enjoy primary rights whether they are jews or moshiach-believers or even if they are of any other belief. As YAHWEH promised the land to all the racial israelites there should not be any reservations within the racial jewish community and every jew by race must enjoy the primary and equal rights !! Arabs and other races should enjoy secondary privileges but equal rights in the country.

unilaterally declared along the borders of the Partition Plan UN181,as set out in the Israel declaration of independence means that which is not a part of the Jewish State is still Palestine. Without Arab recognition your squat is still illegal. and without legality you squat will be subject BDS. Even if Obama calm the waves of justifiable angry Muslims.

Glad they stated the obvious.

all this talk of whether Israel is a Jewish State doesn't mean much, when Israel is surrounded by 100 million hostile Arabs on 3 sides

And nothing will. We value our Druze citizens; we respect you as valiant and brave soldiers who serve with distinction and pride in the IDF. I have absolutely no compunction about visiting Daliyat al Carmel, even going all by myself. There does not exist a single Arab village in all of Israel where I would ever go alone. I don't even like going to Nazareth.