Tension builds ahead of Middle East summit

Israeli and US leaders have agreed ahead of a three-way meeting with the Palestinians not to deal with a new Palestinian government that does not denounce violence, recognise Israel and accept peace agreements, an Israeli official said today.

In a further indication of tensions ahead of the meeting, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is in Israel for the Middle East summit, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas cancelled a press conference that had been scheduled to follow a meeting later today, Abbas' office said.