More Israelis support the two-state solution after US President Barack Obama delivered a speech in Cairo, showed a recent poll sent to Xinhua on Sunday.

Following Obama's speech on June 4, Israelis' support for the two-state solution increased slightly from 59 percent to 63 percent according to the poll, which was conducted by the Harry S.Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem between June 7 and 8.

The poll showed Obama's speech had great impact on Israelis' expectations as to the chances for a final status settlement with the Palestinians and for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Assessment that the chances for a Palestinian state are medium or high increased from 32 percent to 42 percent after the speech, and beliefs that it is possible to reach a final status settlement increased from 35 percent to 41 percent.

Before Obama's speech, another poll was conducted jointly by the Harry S. Truman Research Institute and the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah between May 21 and June3.

The joint poll showed 59 percent of the Israelis and 61 percent of the Palestinians supported the two-state solution, while 36 percent of the Israelis opposed it.

It also showed before Obama's speech, 67 percent of the Palestinians and 62 percent of the Israelis believe that it is impossible to reach a final status agreement. Only 30 percent and 35 percent respectively believe it is possible.

In the same vein, 69 percent of the Palestinians and 61 percent of the Israelis think that chances for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state next to Israel in the coming five years are nonexistent or low; 28 percent of the Palestinians and 32 percent of the Israelis believe the chances are medium or high.

The joint poll also indicated that 52 percent of the Israelis believe that Israel should bomb the Iranian nuclear reactor if the international efforts to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons fail; 35 percent oppose it.

Among the Palestinians, 43 percent feel that nuclearization of Iran holds positive consequences for the Arab region; 33 percent view it negatively.

The Palestinian sample size was 1,270 adults interviewed face-to-face in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip in 127 randomly selected location between May 21 and 23. The margin of error is 3 percent.

The Israeli sample included 606 adult Israelis interviewed by phone between May 24 and June 3, and between June 7 and 8. The margin of error is 4.5 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency June 15, 2009)