Ariel Sharon says Israel will continue building a security fence separating it from Palestinian areas. His pledge came despite US President George Bush's warning that the Israeli Prime Minister must consider the consequences on the Middle East peace process.
At a joint press conference with Mr Bush in the Rose Garden of the White House, Mr Sharon also renewed a call for all terrorism by Palestinians come to an end.
Mr Bush said his commitment to the security Israel is unshakeable, but he called on both sides to do more to move the peace process forward, saying: "Much hard work remains to be done by Israelis and Palestinians and by their neighbours.
"I encouraged the prime minister to take further steps to improve the daily conditions faced by Palestinians. Israelis and Palestinians deserve the same chance to live normal lives free from fear, free from hatred and violence and free from harassment."
"I also urged the prime minister to carefully consider all the consequences of Israel's actions as we move forward on the road to peace," he added.
Mr Bush has criticised Israel's construction of a security wall in Palestinian areas of the West Bank. "I would hope in the longer term that the fence would be irrelevant," Mr Bush said. "The fence is a sensitive issue. I understand that."
But Mr Sharon defended its construction, saying it helped stem potential terror attacks. He added Israel would construct it in a way that would limit disruption to Palestinians.
On another touchy issue, Mr Sharon said the two presidents had agreed there would be no release of prisoners "with blood on their hands," those who are likely to return to terrorism or prisoners who, when released in the past, resumed terror activities.
Abbas last week demanded the release of most of the some 7,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. A few hundred have been released and Sharon has promised to release several hundred more.