Israel, Palestinians apart on peace talks

JERUSALEM, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Israeli and Palestinian leaders Tuesday remained far part on the agenda for a Mideast peace summit tentatively slated for late this month in Annapolis, Md.

"We have not reached any understandings on the core issues and have not been able to formulate a joint declaration of principles," said Nabil Abu Rudaineh, an aide to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Rudaineh spoke with reporters in Ankara where Abbas met with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said any peace summit must be based on the premise that Israel is a Jewish state and that Palestinian refugees will only be allowed to return to a Palestinian state, the Post reported.