Obama: Peace between Israel and Palestinians possible

Obama, Abbas and Netanyahu

US President Barack Obama confirmed Thursday the possibility of achieving peace between Palestinians and Israelis. According to him, the fact that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not a dove in the Jewish state may serve peace efforts, which require the hawks and doves from the Palestinian and Israeli sides to be together.

Obama said in an interview with Israel's Channel Two TV: "There hope of achieving peace in the Middle East exists," but he stressed at the same time that he is "not absolutely optimistic" in this matter.

Obama, who met Netanyahu on Tuesday, said that Israel has the right to be skeptical about the peace process but called to maintain the hope for achieving peace between the Palestinian and the Israeli sides. He added that "many people had believed that the establishment of the State of Israel is impossible, so its presence should be a great source of hope."

On Netanyahu, Obama said that "not only he is smart and direct, the fact that he is not a dove in Israel may be useful because any successful peace should include hawks and doves on both sides."

Obama reiterated that Netanyahu is "in a good position to achieve peace" with the Palestinians.