US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell ended a critical round of talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders today with no sign of progress toward persuading them to begin implementing a peace "road map".
Mr Powell, leading the highest-level US peacemaking effort in more than a year, tried but apparently failed to squeeze concessions from Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mr Mahmoud Abbas for ending 31 months of violence.
Each side insisted the other move first in putting the US-backed plan in motion, a recipe for stalemate in a conflict that has defied numerous earlier diplomatic peace initiatives.
Expectations for a breakthrough had been low because of the gulf of mistrust between the two sides, sharp differences on key issues and scepticism about US commitment.
But after failing to narrow Israel-Palestinian differences, Mr Powell did his best to put a brave face on the talks, saying both sides had pledged to seek an end to hostilities.
"Nobody should underestimate the challenges ahead," he said at a joint news conference with Mr Abbas in the West Bank town of Jericho. "Let's not waste another day."
Mr Powell called on the revamped Palestinian government to move quickly to disarm militants behind attacks on Israelis and urged Israel to ease the daily hardships of the Palestinians. But Mr Sharon said the Palestinians could expect nothing more than modest humanitarian gestures from Israel until Mr Abbas's government cracked down on militants spearheading an uprising for independence.
Mr Powell said Mr Abbas "made clear to me today he understands the importance of ending terrorism". But the Palestinian premier made no public commitment other than reiterating his opposition to the use of violence "by any party". Mr Abbas instead chided Israel for withholding its full acceptance of the road map and called for troop pullbacks from Palestinian cities which Israeli forces occupied or blockaded in the past year following a spate of suicide bombings. Mr Powell began his visit yesterday, saying it signalled President George W. Bush's determination to move forward on Israeli-Palestinian peace after the Iraq war.
The Palestinians have accepted the road map, a three-stage plan based on reciprocal steps to end violence and create a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip by 2005.
Israel has raised 15 reservations about the plan, also sponsored by Russia, the European Union and United Nations.
Mr Powell welcomed steps toward reform by Mr Abbas, a leading moderate who took office in April with backing from Washington, which wants to sideline Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat.
But he also said: "We must also see rapid, decisive action by the Palestinians to disarm and dismantle the terrorist infrastructure." Mr Powell's call appeared to counter proposals by Palestinian officials on reaching a temporary ceasefire with militant factions rather than confronting such groups.
Later, after meeting Mr Abbas in Jericho, Mr Powell put part of the onus on Israel. "The promise of a Palestinian state rings hollow though while so many are suffering," Mr Powell said.
Israel said it was undertaking several humanitarian gestures such as restoring Palestinian fishing rights off Gaza, easing the transfer of goods and releasing several dozen detainees.
But Palestinians said it was not enough because Israeli roadblocks remained around Palestinian cities.