Israel's Livni downbeat on peace

The front-runner to become Israel's next prime minister, Tzipi Livni, has played down hopes of reaching a peace deal with the Palestinians this year.

Ms Livni, currently Israel's foreign minister, warned that pressure on both sides could lead to misunderstandings, frustrations and renewed violence.

Her comments come days before fresh US efforts to advance the peace process.

Ms Livni is the top candidate to replace Prime Minister Ehud Olmert who is expected to resign later this year.

Last November, Israeli and Palestinian leaders promised they would try to have an agreement signed by the end of this year.

"I believe that timeline is important, but what's more important is the content and the nature of the understanding that we can reach with the Palestinians," she was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.

"I think any attempt to bridge gaps which might be premature to bridge or any attempt to reach something which is not the comprehensive agreement we want to reach can lead... to clashes, this can lead to misunderstandings, this can lead to violence," she added.

Ms Livni, who was addressing foreign media in Jerusalem, also said a future peace deal might not be implemented as long as the militant group, Hamas, remained in control of the Gaza Strip.

No right of return

The foreign minister is favourite to win the ruling centrist Kadima Party race to replace Mr Olmert, who has said he will step down after leadership elections in mid-September.

Mr Olmert is facing a series of investigations into corruption allegations.

Ms Livni said there would be no right of return for the millions of Palestinian refugees to Israel in any peace deal between the two sides.

"When we are talking two states for two people, the idea is Israel is the homeland for the Jewish people and the Palestinian state is the homeland for the Palestinians," she said.

"Without this concept, there is no agreement."

She called for a unity government which would help to create a Palestinian state living peacefully alongside Israel.

"I believe that what we called in the past left and right is something that belongs to the past," she is quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.

"Now most Israelis understand that having two states in the lands comprising historic Palestine is an Israeli interest."

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat refused to comment on Ms Livni's remarks.

"I can't stand guard on Livni's lips," he told Reuters news agency. "It's not appropriate to do this through the media."