Israel's prime minister denies plan to call for cease-fire

JERUSALEM -- Israel backtracked from a statement claiming that at a meeting Sunday, Israel and the Palestinians would declare a cease-fire to end nearly 18 months of fighting, after U.S. and Palestinian officials said it was premature.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office said that no such meeting has been arranged. A second statement blamed the media for the mix-up, saying reports had quoted an earlier announcement that U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni would chair a meeting Sunday, "the goal of which will be to bring about a declaration -- by both sides -- on a cease-fire."

Both the Palestinians and the United States said that while talks were ongoing, the Israeli statement was premature. Palestinians said no meeting has been set up for Sunday.

Mohammed Dahlan, the Palestinian security chief in Gaza, told Israel TV that the Palestinians would not meet the Israelis unless Israel first pulls out of Palestinian areas and also agrees to political talks, not just truce discussions.

The U.S. Embassy said Zinni had discussed "many ideas and proposals ... but no decisions have been taken on the next steps."

Sharon earlier dropped preconditions for a truce, including seven days of absolute quiet. After a Saturday night meeting at his desert ranch with Zinni, Sharon's office issued a statement saying a cease-fire was in the works.

Sharon spokesman Raanan Gissin said the Sunday meeting would have the goal of setting a date for a cease-fire declaration, hopefully within the next few days. But the later statement said, "no decision has been made on holding a meeting."

If a cease-fire is reached, they would immediately move to implement a U.S. truce plan worked out last year by CIA Director George Tenet, Sharon's office said.

Israel has given assurances it will meet a key Palestinian demand and withdraw its army from the remaining Palestinian areas where troops are operating, Israeli officials said.