Poll: Americans say Mideast peace unlikely

PRINCETON, N.J., June 4 (UPI) -- As President Barack Obama tries to bridge differences between Arabs and Israelis, Americans are skeptical about reaching Mideast peace, a Gallup Poll indicates.

Only 32 percent of U.S. adults surveyed said they believe "there will come a time when Israel and the Arab nations will be able to settle their differences and live in peace," results of a Gallup Poll released Thursday indicate. Sixty-six percent disagreed with the statement.

Current attitudes about the chances for Mideast peace were nearly the most negative in more than a decade of asking the question, Gallup said. The only poll with a lower result was in July 2008, when 27 percent thought peace could be achieved. That poll came after the Israeli-Hezbollah war in southern Lebanon, and followed the election victory of Hamas in Gaza.

Respondents favored establishing an independent Palestinian state on the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the Princeton, N.J., polling agency said. Fifty-one percent of those polled said they support creation of a Palestinian state, while 20 percent expressed opposition.

Results are based on nationwide telephone interviews with 1,015 respondents conducted May 29-31. The margin of error is 3 percentage points.