The Palestinian Authority today appealed to the United States to intervene to halt a new wave of Middle East violence.
The Palestinians have written to US President Mr George W. Bush and Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell, urging Washington to play a broader role in backing a truce-to-talks plan led by former US senator Mr George Mitchell.
PLO spokesman in the US Mr Hassan Abdel Rahman said on Monday the message called on the US administration to pressure Israel to stop Israeli crimes against Palestinians and to shoulder its responsibilities and allow the deployment of international observers.
The Mitchell plan calls for an end to violence, followed by confidence-building measures to pave the way for peace talks.
Separately, the White House called anew for Israelis and Palestinians to end more than 10 months of bloodshed, warning both sides that continuing down this path will only lead to disaster .
At least 513 Palestinians, 131 Israelis and 13 Israeli Arabs have been killed since a Palestinian revolt against Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza flared in late September after peace talks stalled.
Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon and Foreign Minister Mr Shimon Peres disagree on how to induce the Palestinians to enforce a ceasefire that has failed to take hold since it was brokered by the US in June.
Mr Peres has sought high-level talks with the Palestinians on implementing the ceasefire, but Mr Sharon wants further pressure on Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat and will not hold talks until violence ends, Israeli political sources said.