WASHINGTON - The United States said on Thursday that a Mideast peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians is not likely before January. "We do not think that it's likely," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said when she was asked if there is any possibility for Israel and the Palestinian Authorities to reach a peace agreement before the end of the year. "We realize that, with the political changes that have happened in Israel over the passed couple of months, and really since early summer started, that the prospects of being able to get one done became more unlikely," Ms. Perino said. She spoke as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reportedly delivered similar remarks as she arrived in Israel for her eighth trip to the region since last year's U.S. summit on Israel-Palestinian peace in Annapolis, Maryland. Bush hosted the summit in late November 2007 with the goal of securing a peace deal before he left office. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also signed an agreement to work toward that goal by the end of 2008. Both Israeli and Palestinian officials have expressed doubts about arriving at an agreement before the end of the year, but U.S. officials have been more optimistic in their public comments. Ms. Perino blamed part of the inability to secure a deal on recent political changes in Israel, but she noted that the Bush administration has "laid some very good groundwork" for a future agreement. Olmert resigned in September amid allegations of corruption. Kadima Party leader and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni gave up efforts to form a new coalition government late last month and is seeking to hold early general elections, which could be held in February, Livni's spokesman has said. Olmert will continue to lead as Israel's interim prime minister until a successor assumes power either by forming a coalition in the current Knesset or through general elections. However, it is unclear whether he will be able to strike a deal with the Palestinians before Israel forms its new government. Last month, Rice postponed a trip to a Middle East conference because of the global crisis in financial markets. Rice has said she would "leave no stone unturned" in trying to get a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians before the end of the year. Regarding her current trip to the Middle East, a State Department statement earlier said Rice "will meet with her quartet counterparts and senior government officials to discuss efforts to achieve positive and lasting peace in the region, consistent with the Annapolis process and the shared goal of a two-state solution." The Mideast Quartet -- which includes the United Nations, the U.S., European Union and Russia -- has been working to negotiate a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinian government. Following her visit to Israel, Rice is due to travel to the Palestinian territories, Jordan and Egypt until Nov. 9. The latest Mideast trip by Rice marks her 19th visit to the region in two years, and her eighth shuttle diplomacy trip to the hot spot since the U.S.-hosted peace conference in Annapolis last November. Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, under the U.S. pressure, resumed the long-stalled peace talks and pledged to reach a comprehensive peace agreement by the end of 2008. US President George W. Bush leaves office in January.