Jerusalem ? An Israeli-Palestinian summit was called off Monday at the last minute, a sign that Israel’s Gaza pullout last month has failed for now to create the peace momentum the international community had hoped for.

The meeting, set tentatively for today, stumbled over day-to-day issues such as Israel’s release of Palestinian prisoners, and not over fundamental disputes that have kept the sides from reaching a peace deal for more than a decade.

The summit between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas was postponed after the two sides deadlocked over the turnover of West Bank towns to Palestinians control. The meeting was to have been the first between the two leaders since Israel completed its Gaza Strip withdrawal last month.

“There was not enough preparation for this summit,” Palestinian official Nabil Abu Rdeneh said. “So it has been postponed until the end of the month, or the beginning of next month.”

That would follow Abbas’ Oct. 20 talks in Washington with President Bush. The Palestinian leader would have preferred to take summit achievements with him.