JERUSALEM - The Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers have rescheduled their much-delayed first summit meeting for next week and will take up issues ranging from Israel's planned pullout from Gaza to attempts to restart the U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan, officials on both sides said today.

The long-delayed summit was scheduled for Tuesday, a senior Palestinian official said, but both sides emphasized that plans remained tentative.

Hassan Abu Libdeh, an adviser to Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia, said the meeting would depend on the outcome of a preparatory session Sunday between the leaders' aides.

"We are discussing various issues and if we agree on these issues then there will be no obstacles to a meeting," Abu Libdeh said.

Raanan Gissin, an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, said "there are discussions about possibly holding a meeting on this date, but it cannot be confirmed."

Israeli media reported the main topic at the summit would be Sharon's plan to unilaterally withdraw from the Gaza Strip, a proposal that could include the removal of most Jewish settlements in the coastal area.

Qureia and Sharon have delayed meeting for months. Qureia has said he wanted a summit to yield results, such as an easing of restrictions on Palestinians. It was not clear whether Sharon had given new assurances in that regard.

Meanwhile, a key Israel adviser on Israel's West Bank separation barrier, told the Haaretz daily that the government had decided against building a section of the contentious structure that would encircle Palestinians, another sign Israel is backing down on its original plans for the barrier.

Israel says it needs the barrier of razor wire, concrete walls and trenches to keep out Palestinian suicide bombers.