The US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell called on Palestinians today to end violence against Israelis, to clear the way for the latest US-led peace initiative.
"Right now the most important thing for the Palestinians to do is what Prime Minister (Mahmud Abbas) Abu Mazen has said at the time of his inauguration. They have to get the violence under control," he told NBC television.
"We can't move forward with the roadmap ... in the presence of continuing violence and terrorism," he said.
The so-called "roadmap" proposed by the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations calls for a series of steps toward peace that would culminate in a Palestinian state in 2005.
Mr Powell also said that Israeli settlement activity in Palestinian territories "has to come to an end".
"Agreements will have to be made between the two sides as to settlements that are currently in existence - which go away, which stay, how do you deal with those which might have to remain in place," he said.
"There are some who want to see all settlements go, all Israelis to be outside of the new Palestinian state. But this will be the subject of intense negotiations as we go forward."
Mr Powell has said that he plans to visit the Middle East to bolster the peace initiative. US officials have said that trip could come in early or mid-May.
AFP