<p>US President Barack Obama has reiterated that a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine is "absolutely vital" for Israel's security, Efe news agency reported on Friday.<br /></p>.<p>"I continue to believe a two-state solution is absolutely vital for not only peace between Israelis and Palestinians, but for the long-term security of Israel as a democratic and Jewish state," Obama told reporters at the President's country retreat at Camp David on Thursday after a summit with leaders from six Persian Gulf countries.<br /><br />However, Obama declined to comment on the agreement announced this week between the Vatican and Palestine that supports the "two-state" solution and includes Vatican recognition of an independent Palestine.<br /><br />"That prospect (of a peace treaty between Israel and Palestine) seems distant now, but I think it's always important for us to keep in mind what's right and what's possible," added Obama.<br /><br />He admitted that certain members of the recently formed government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not support the premise of a two-state solution, but confirmed that it continued to be his premise.<br /><br />Relations between the US and Israel have deteriorated in recent months.In March, Obama announced that the US would re-consider backing a UN Security Council resolution to recognise a sovereign Palestinian state, following decades of vetoing similar proposed resolutions.<br /><br />The US's decision to review its position in the UN followed Netanyahu's announcement that there would never be a Palestinian state as long as he continued to head the government, a declaration he retracted two days later.</p>
<p>US President Barack Obama has reiterated that a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine is "absolutely vital" for Israel's security, Efe news agency reported on Friday.<br /></p>.<p>"I continue to believe a two-state solution is absolutely vital for not only peace between Israelis and Palestinians, but for the long-term security of Israel as a democratic and Jewish state," Obama told reporters at the President's country retreat at Camp David on Thursday after a summit with leaders from six Persian Gulf countries.<br /><br />However, Obama declined to comment on the agreement announced this week between the Vatican and Palestine that supports the "two-state" solution and includes Vatican recognition of an independent Palestine.<br /><br />"That prospect (of a peace treaty between Israel and Palestine) seems distant now, but I think it's always important for us to keep in mind what's right and what's possible," added Obama.<br /><br />He admitted that certain members of the recently formed government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not support the premise of a two-state solution, but confirmed that it continued to be his premise.<br /><br />Relations between the US and Israel have deteriorated in recent months.In March, Obama announced that the US would re-consider backing a UN Security Council resolution to recognise a sovereign Palestinian state, following decades of vetoing similar proposed resolutions.<br /><br />The US's decision to review its position in the UN followed Netanyahu's announcement that there would never be a Palestinian state as long as he continued to head the government, a declaration he retracted two days later.</p>