On Wednesday, President George W. Bush expressed optimism about prospects for a U.S. sponsored Middle East peace conference, but the American public does not share his optimism.

A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 20% of Americans say it’s likely that the Arab/Israeli conflict can be resolved by the time President Bush leaves office on January 20, 2009. Seventy-five percent (75%) say success is Not Very Likely or Not at All Likely to be achieved.

Underlying the pessimistic assessment of the current process is a deeper skepticism about the possibility of Israel and the Palestinian people to peacefully exist side-by-side in the Middle East. Only 36% of Americans say it is possible while 37% disagree and 27% are not sure.

However, those numbers reflect a slightly less pessimistic set of expectations than when President Bush first called for the peace conference over the summer. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey in July found that, at that time, just 27% believed it would be possible for Israel and the Palestinian people to peacefully co-exist.

However, if progress is made that might lead to lasting peace, 63% of Americans believe that terrorists would attempt to sabotage the peace process. That figure is essentially unchanged from July.

Perhaps because their expectations are so low, few Americans have been following the news about the peace conference. Just 30% say they’ve followed the news even Somewhat Closely. That figure includes only 7% who have followed the story Very Closely.

While the public is skeptical about the prospects for success, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been engaged in extensive shuttle diplomacy to end years of deadlock. The President says he is "encouraged from what Condi tells me is going on in the Middle East... "I'm optimistic this can be achieved and we'll continue working to that end."

That July survey found that 60% hold a favorable opinion of Israel while 26% have an unfavorable view of that nation. Just 23% have a favorable opinion of the Palestinians while 62% hold an unfavorable opinion.

An earlier Rasmussen Reports survey found that 67% of Americans consider Israel an ally. Also, a 2006 survey found strong support for the position “that the United States should not support the new Palestinian government until in recognizes Israel's right to exist.”

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