Ramallah - French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Saturday said that he believes that a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians before the end of 
2008 is unlikely.

Attending the opening of a French-German financed industrial park in the West Bank city of Jenin, Kouchner said a general document could be signed within the time frame, but a final peace deal - which would include the main sticking point of the status of Jerusalem - was not expected.

US President George W Bush has repeatedly claimed that a deal for Arab-Israeli peace is possible before he leaves office in January 2009. (dpa)