Ramallah - A senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed concern Tuesday that the anticipated close outcome of Israeli elections could create a "state of paralysis" in advancing the peace process.

"The Israelis voted for a state of paralysis," chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told the al-Jazeera satellite channel from Amman, where he arrived with Abbas following a week-long tour of European countries.

Any new Israeli government, "regardless of its structure, will not be able to advance peace on the Palestinian or Syrian tracks," he said.

He spoke after three Israeli news channels published the results of exit polls, which forecast a razor-thin, yet surprise, win by the ruling, centrist Kadima party of Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni over the hardline, opposition Likud of former premier Benjamin Netanyahu.

But they also forecast the right-wing bloc becoming a majority in the Knesset and no one party emerging dominant in the chamber, able to dictate policy.

"Any coalition government that rejects the two-state solution, continues with settlement activities and refuses signed agreements is not going to be a partner for us in peace and we hope the entire world will not accept it as a partner," Erekat warned, hinting at a government that would include the ultra-nationalist Israel Beiteinu, which emerged as the likely third-largest party, even if somewhat less strong than predicted by pre-election polls. dpa