Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and prime minister Mahmud Abbas have, for the first time, described terror attacks as "terrorist operations" and called on all factions to declare an immediate ceasefire.
Mr Arafat made his landmark speech live on television from his battered Ramallah compound after one of the worst eruptions of violence in the 32-month-old intifada left 30 people dead in two days.
"I strongly condemn the terrorist operation in Jerusalem, as strongly as I condemn the assassination attempt against (Abdul Aziz) al-Rantissi," Mr Arafat said.
He was referring to the suicide bombing of a bus, claimed by Hamas, which killed 16 people and the bomber in central Jerusalem and to the assassination attempt on a Hamas leader in Gaza City the day before.
"I call on all Palestinian factions to stop all kinds of military operations and shooting attacks against Israelis," he told Palestine TV.
"I call on Palestinian factions to take their responsibilities and avoid taking the path on which Israel is trying to push them in order to destroy the roadmap," he added.
"We have to save the peace process and implement the roadmap. We demand international observers be sent. We have to act to prevent the deterioration," Mr Arafat said.
"Bush who personally committed himself to the roadmap must take immediate steps to stop this deterioration and to force Israel to implement the roadmap and send international observers," he added in his brief speech.
"This cycle of hell must be halted," the veteran leader, who has been excluded from the political process by Israel and the United States, went on.
Mr Arafat stole the limelight from Mr Abbas, who only issued a statement describing the situation in almost the same words.
"Prime minister Mahmud Abbas condemns the terrorist attack which took place this afternoon in Jerusalem and also condemns the Israeli reaction in Gaza," the statement said.
Both Mr Arafat and Mr Abbas had condemned suicide bombings in the past, but had never used the word "terrorist" before and Mr Arafat had always refrained from condemning every Palestinian operation.
AFP