Mr Tony Blair talked to Israel's Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, last night as part of the continuing push for the renewal of the Middle East peace process.
The call to Mr Sharon followed Mr Blair's 90-minute meeting with Mr Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, in London, and the Prime Minister's clearest declaration that "a viable Palestinian state" is essential to any durable settlement in the Middle East.
As Mr Blair and Mr Arafat agreed this was "a time to act with new resolve", the British Foreign Office rejected suggestions that the events of September 11th had provided the stimulus for the renewed peace effort in the Middle East and might, therefore, be seen as a victory for Osama bin Laden's terrorism.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's World at One programme, the Foreign Office Minister, Mr Peter Hain, said it was true that "the international media spotlight" had returned to the situation in the Middle East in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on Washington and New York. However, he insisted that "the issues plaguing the Middle East were there before September 11th" and had commanded considerable British and American effort over the long term. Consequently, said Mr Hain, no one should hand "any sense of achievement" to bin Laden.
Before flying to Ireland last night Mr Arafat said his round of meetings in London had gone "in a perfect way". Referring to his talks with Mr Blair, the Foreign Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, the PLO leader declared: "There is no doubt this is something special. We are facing very important international incidents and we have to face them together. There is no doubt something positive will result from it." British sources appeared confident last night that - just as Mr Blair's commitment to a Palestinian state grew more explicit - so, as one put it, "we have clearer commitment from him (Mr Arafat) that it must exist side-by-side with the State of Israel."
Mr Arafat again repeated his condemnation of the American terror attacks and rejected Osama bin Laden's claim to have carried them out in the name of Palestinians. "Islam as a religion forbids anyone to harm any civilians, any innocent people around the world," he declared. "We are against all forms of terrorism including state-sponsored terrorism." He repeated his calls for an independent Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital.
"We have asked for the application of the UN resolutions" calling for an Israeli withdrawal from occupied lands, Mr Arafat said. "We're not asking for the moon."
And Mr Arafat was rewarded by clear acknowledgement from Mr Blair of the need to end "the suffering" of the Palestinian people.
Appearing with Mr Arafat after their meeting, Mr Blair repeatedly rejected linkage between the September 11th attacks and the renewed effort to reinvigorate the peace process. However, he acknowledged the terror attacks had given the work new impetus and said a reduction in Palestinian violence in the last week meant progress could be made.
"A viable Palestinian state as part of a negotiated and agreed settlement which guarantees peace and security for Israel is the objective," declared Mr Blair: "The end we desire is a just peace in which the Israelis and Palestinians live side by side, each in their own state, secure and able to prosper and develop."
That, said Mr Blair, was "the sensible outcome", adding that it was a question of when, not if, talks between the two sides resumed.
Beyond the rhetoric, however, no details emerged about the practical next steps toward renewed negotiations, with British sources acknowledging that Washington holds the key.
In an important domestic development yesterday Mr Blair won bipartisan Conservative support for his Middle East peace bid. The Shadow Foreign secretary, Mr Michael Ancram, said: "Any instability in the Middle East serves only to benefit Osama bin Laden who is attempting to hijack the Palestinian cause to justify his campaign of terrorism."