The United States has criticised Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon over his threat to draw his own borders and isolate the Palestinians if peace efforts remain deadlocked.
Mr Sharon's "unilateral steps" include drawing a temporary border in the West Bank and moving some Jewish settlements - plans that drew criticism from Palestinians and some of his own political allies.
Scott McClellan
In a long-awaited speech last night in Herzliya, where he had been expected to spell out the actions he had been mentioning for several weeks, Mr Sharon stuck to concepts and gave few specifics. He did not say where the temporary border would be, and he did not list settlements that might be moved.
Mr Sharon's "disengagement plan" reflected intense domestic pressure from Israelis to take action to end three years of violent conflict. The prime minister's popularity has plummeted in recent months as the US-backed "road map" peace plan stalled.
The road map calls for an end to all violence and leads to a Palestinian state through three stages, aiming for 2005. But talks have sputtered because of violence, political turmoil and intransigence on both sides.
The United States, which has criticised Mr Sharon for considering one-sided measures, advised Israel not to try to dictate terms of a settlement.
"We would oppose any unilateral steps that block the road toward negotiations under the road map," presidential press secretary Mr Scott McClellan said.
"The United States believes that a settlement must be negotiated and we would oppose any effort - any Israeli effort - to impose a settlement."
Palestinians joined Israeli hawks and doves in criticising Mr Sharon's proposals.
Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Korei called for negotiations, saying: "These are ultimately dangerous words and this type of talk is simply not acceptable."
AP