Olmert unsure of Bush's 1-year peace goal

JERUSALEM, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he has doubts about U.S. President George Bush's claim peace with the Palestinians is attainable in one year.

Olmert made the remarks Monday at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, a New York Times correspondent reported from Jerusalem.

"I'm not sure we can reach an agreement, and I'm not sure we can reach its implementation," Olmert said, adding he would be "committing a sin to my duty" if he didn't try.

During a visit last Thursday, Bush said he believed the two sides could have a deal signed to create a Palestinian state by the time he leaves office next January.

Monday, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni met one-on-one with Ahmed Qurei, the former Palestinian prime minister, for two hours in a Jerusalem hotel, renewing talks that ended seven years ago.

Livni said there was no place for the media in the talks.

"Faced with a choice between headlines and daily drama as opposed to results, I choose results," Livni said.