Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in an interview that if the negotiations towards a two-state solution with the Palestinians fail, it would mean the end of the State of Israel.

He was returning from the conference in Annapolis, Maryland, where he and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas vowed to restart formal peace talks.

They have decided to reach a peace deal by 2008 with the help of the U.S.

The summit in Annapolis was called by U.S. President George W Bush a “hopeful beginning" for Mid-East peace.

Mr. Olmert said that it was not the first time when he had uttered his fears towards the faster growing Palestinian population.

In 2003 he made almost the same comments in order to justify the strategy of unilateral withdrawals from Israeli-occupied land which failed.

Mr. Olmert said: "If the day comes when the two-state solution collapses and we face a South African-style struggle for equal voting rights, then, as soon as that happens, the State of Israel is finished," BBC News reports.

After the summit the U.S. appointed Gen. James Jones, former NATO commander, as its new Middle East envoy.

One of his tasks will be to supervise in what way the Israelis and Palestinians live up to the security commitments made under the peace plan, “road map”, which is the basis for the negotiations.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said: "Building security in the Middle East is the surest path to making peace in the Middle East. Gen Jones is the best individual to lead our efforts in this essential endeavor."

The Israeli and Palestinian leaders will have to meet every other week. On December 12 teams of negotiators will have to meet.

Since the summit began there have been angry protests in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, which is controlled by Hamas.

The two sides agreed before the beginning of the summit for a treaty “resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues without exception".