But Palestinians said the postponement came at the behest of the Americans, and to give time for US envoy Martin Indyk to arrive in the region to attend.
"The meeting that was planned for tonight between Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams will not be taking place. It's being postponed," the Israeli official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The official declined to explain the decision, but said Monday's killing of an Israeli police officer in the West Bank "was the direct result of ongoing incitement and glorification of terrorism that we see in the official Palestinian media and education system.