The Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, is in the US for talks with US President George W Bush in an effort to secure American backing for a plan to withdraw unilaterally from Gaza.
Before leaving for Washington, Mr Sharon pledged to keep the main Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
But Palestinian officials said his comments effectively closed the door on any deal under the internationally approved 'road map' peace plan.
President Bush, who met the Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, in Texas yesterday, welcomed any Israeli pullout from Gaza as a positive step but said it would not replace the plan to create a Palestinian state.
