JERUSALEM, June 15 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Sunday Israel's continued settlement building could hurt Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

Rice, on her sixth trip to the Middle East this year to try and advance Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking, made her comments before meeting Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.

"I am very concerned that at a time when we need to build confidence between the parties, the continued building and the settlement activity has the potential to harm the negotiations going forward," Rice told reporters.

During her visit Rice is also due to meet Palestinian leaders.

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