Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has rebuffed Secretary of State Colin Powell's demand for a halt to violence, saying Israel first must withdraw its troops from the West Bank.
And further evidence of a stalemate emerged as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon refused to give a timetable for pulling back his troops from the area during talks this evening with the US Secretary of State.
Powell met with Sharon for about an hour after conferring earlier with Mr Arafat in his besieged West Bank headquarters in the town of Ramallah.
Mr Sharon is resisting Powell's mission to gain a cease-fire and resumption of peace talks, in the Bush administration's deepest plunge into Mideast diplomacy.
"He [Sharon] repeated that once the operation was done, troops would withdraw," said an Israeli official, who asked not to be named. He added that the Israeli leader did not give a timetable.
"He (Sharon) repeated that once the operation was done, troops would withdraw," said the official, who asked not to be named. He added that the Israeli leader did not give a timetable.
Arafat, 72, appeared in good health as he met with Powell in his rocket-scarred headquarters that is surrounded by Israeli tanks and troops. Arafat has been under pressure that is "unreal for an old man like him," said Zeid Abu Shawish, a Palestinian doctor in the compound.
Powell was driven to the besieged compound in a motorcade of armored-plated SUVs, shielded by US security personnel with submachine guns.
The headquarters showed the effects of Israeli bombardment. A gaping hole marred the facade and the walls were blackened with bullet marks.
A senior aide, Saeb Erekat, said Arafat stood by his commitments, including an end to violence. But, Erekat said after the three-hour meeting, that meant "once the Israelis complete the withdrawal we will, as Palestinians, then carry out our obligations."
Arafat complained bitterly and extensively to Powell about Israel's military thrust into Palestinian-held towns and villages, and especially its actions in Jenin and a refugee camp in the town.
Powell, in a brief statement to reporters, called his meeting with Arafat useful and constructive.
A senior US official said Powell's "clear message" to Arafat in a 45-minute presentation was "the bombings have to stop, that it was a major barrier" to progress toward a security agreement or on negotiations that Powell has said should lead to establishment of a Palestinian state.
Powell and Arafat directed top aides to meet Monday on "a variety of ideas." He provided no details.
Arafat saw Powell to the door, and they shook hands, but Arafat did not emerge. "Arafat did not come out for security reasons," Erekat said.