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.

Palestinian authorities said that Palestine would not meet the Israelis unless Israel first pulls out of Palestinian areas and also agrees to political talks, not just truce discussions.