U.S. President Barack Obama said his administration overestimated its ability to persuade the Israel and Palestinian Authority to resume peace negotiations. "I think it is absolutely true that what we did this year didn't produce the kind of breakthrough that we wanted and if we had anticipated some of these political problems on both sides earlier, we might not have raised expectations as high," Obama was quoted as saying.
According to Obama, both parties have been unwilling to make the bold gestures needed to move the process forward. The US leader stressed his administration will continue to work toward a two-state solution in which Israel is secure and the Palestinians have sovereignty. "Moving forward, though, we are going to continue to work with both parties to recognize what I think is ultimately their deep-seated interest in a two-state solution in which Israel is secure and Palestinians have sovereignty and can start focusing on developing their economy and improving the lives of their children and grandchildren."
