JERUSALEM, Oct. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Israel will not make concessions as a tentatively scheduled summit between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is two days away,local paper Ha'aretz reported Monday.

    Israel refuses to discuss the release of Palestinian prisonersor handing over control of the West Bank cities until after the summit, sources in Jerusalem were quoted as saying.  

    Sharon also stressed on Sunday that he will not make moves that he believes threaten Israel's security.

    "There are gestures that Israel can and will make, and there are gestures that it won't," Sharon told his cabinet. 

    Israel has an interest in holding the summit, the sources said, as it intends to push ahead the negotiation process, but Israel has no intention of agreeing to last-minute demands regarding the release of Palestinian prisoners and the redeployment of Israeli troops from the West Bank cities.

    According to the sources, the Palestinians would find it difficult to cancel the summit, as they have promised both the US administration and Jordan's King Abdullah II that the meeting would go ahead.

    Meanwhile, senior aides to Sharon and Abbas held the second ina series of talks Sunday, in an unsuccessful bid to bridge the gaps.

    Emerging from the meeting in Jerusalem with Sharon's aide Dov Weissglas, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Sunday that the two sides would hold talks again on Monday, and that the discussion had been "positive and in-depth."

    Nevertheless, the two were unable to resolve differences over the release of Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of Israel Defense Forces soldiers from Palestinian cities, casting doubt onwhether the summit would indeed go ahead.

    The two previously met in Tel Aviv on Friday, after which they reported progress on security arrangements at the Egypt-Gaza border.

    Abbas and Sharon have both warned there would be no meeting ifit was not going to deliver concrete results. The plan to meet on Tuesday was first announced after King Abdullah II spoke to thetwo leaders.  Enditem