Jerusalem ? Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas failed Tuesday to resolve key issues on Israel’s planned Gaza withdrawal, and the Palestinian chief said he received no positive answers in a “difficult” meeting.

With the Gaza pullout to begin in less than two months, the summit had been expected to kick off a determined effort by the two sides to work together to ensure the pullout proceeds smoothly and peacefully.

The Palestinians expressed frustration after the more than two-hour session at Sharon’s official residence in Jerusalem.

“This was a difficult meeting, and did not live up to our expectations,” Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia said.

Israeli officials said there was some progress. In a speech after the meeting, Sharon said he and Abbas “agreed during the meeting on full coordination of our exit from Gaza.” He did not offer details.

Mohammed Dahlan, the Palestinian minister in charge of coordinating Israel’s Gaza withdrawal, said bitterly: “There was nothing, nothing.”