Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon has said Washington supported his position of not "surrendering to Palestinian violence and terrorism".
"There is complete American agreement and understanding that we cannot surrender to violence and terrorism", Sharon said in an interview on Israel's Army Radio as he flew home from the United States.
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Repeating his refusal to resume peace talks while Palestinians continue their uprising against Israeli rule he said: "There will be no peace negotiations under threats of terrorism and violence".
There was no immediate comment on his remarks from the US where Mr Sharon had held talks with President Bush and UN Secretary General Mr Kofi Annan.
In fresh violence overnight a member of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's special guard was killed by Israeli tank shells which the army said it fired in response to mortar fire on two Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip.
The death raised the toll in nearly six months of the uprising in the West Bank and Gaza to 348 Palestinians, 66 Israelis and 13 Israeli Arabs.
The Palestinians want the UN to send an observer force to protect Palestinians. Mr Sharon said during his visit to the UN such a move could increase violence.