If Israel and the Palestinian Authority cannot get together on beginning peace talks, the United States will weigh "alternative options," a State Department officials said Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters, spokesman PJ Crowley said that there had been some progress during Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's most recent visit to the Middle East, "but it is clearly not enough. Based on upcoming discussions, we will be able to decide if there is potential to continuing with the current structure, or whether we will have to weigh alternatives."