US President Barack Obama said late on Wednesday that he did not expect a breakthrough on Middle East peace before he leaves office.
Speaking to students and teachers in Argentina, Obama reiterated his support for a two-state solution in which Israelis and Palestinians could live peacefully side by side.
Obama stressed that despite his and others' efforts, the decades-long dispute had not come closer to being resolved during his presidency.
"This is not something I was able to get done," he said. "I am not that hopeful that it's going to happen in the next nine months. It's been 60 years; it's not going to happen in the next nine months." "Having twice failed to achieve Israeli-Palestinian peace, the Obama administration is discussing ways to help preserve the prospect of an increasingly threatened two-state solution, U.S. officials said earlier this month.
Despite his skepticism about progress anytime soon, Obama reinforced his commitment to that prospect.
The president's comments came amid reports that his administration was considering a renewed push on the issue.
