In Israel and the Occupied Territories, Israel’s Foreign Minister has dismissed the prospect of Palestinian statehood within the next two years. Avigdor Lieberman made the comment to reporters in Jerusalem.

Avigdor Lieberman: “As an optimistic person, I see absolutely no chance of reaching a Palestinian state before 2012. One can imagine and dream, but the reality is that we are still a long way from reaching an accord regarding establishing an independent state by 2012.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due in Washington next week for talks with President Obama.