Top Israeli minister cancels Qatar trip - report

JERUSALEM, Oct 29 (Reuters) Israeli Foreign Minister Tsipi Livni has cancelled plans to attend a UN meeting in Qatar because of the expected presence of legislators from the Islamist militant group Hamas, Israel Radio reported today.

Israel has low-level ties with Qatar, and Livni's invitation to a United Nations convention on democracy would have been the first visit by a leading Israeli government minister to the Gulf state in a decade.

The radio said Livni called off the trip after learning that legislators from Hamas, the Palestinian ruling party, would also attend the convention.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry could not be reached immediately for comment.

Israel -- backed by the West -- has boycotted Hamas, which won Palestinian elections in January. Hamas refuses to recognise Israel and its charter calls for the Jewish state's destruction.

The last Israeli leader to visit Qatar was then Prime Minister Shimon Peres who opened a trade office in 1996.

Israel has sought to court what it sees as moderate Arab countries, such as Qatar, as potential allies against Iran's nuclear programme and in fighting militants.

Reuters SP VV1234