US Middle East envoy Mr Anthony Zinni arrived in Ramallah today for talks with Palestinian leader Mr Yasser Arafat.
Mr Zinni met Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon earlier today.
Mr Arafat has been blockaded in the West Bank town by Israeli forces for the past month, despite a sharp reduction in violence since he made an appeal for an end to anti-Israeli attacks in mid-December.
Mr Zinni had held two hours of talks with Mr Sharon, after calling for an immediate implementation of a US ceasefire plan, something which the Israeli leader opposes.
"Mr Zinni asked yesterday evening for an immediate application of the Tenet plan," an Israeli security official said.
But Mr Sharon is insisting on seven days of "complete calm" in the occupied territories before putting the Tenet plan into effect. In this, he is opposed by Israeli Foreign Minister Mr Shimon Peres.
Earlier today, an armed Palestinian was killed in a clash with Israeli soldiers who raided the Palestinian village of Tel in the West Bank.
The Israeli army raided the village with helicopters and tanks.
AFP and