A UN envoy said today the Middle East was at its most dangerous moment in a decade and called on Israel to immediately withdraw its forces from Palestinian-ruled areas.
"There has been too much bloodshed," said Mr Terje Roed-Larsen, UN special envoy for the Middle East peace process, saying both Israel and the Palestinians had to take courageous and unpopular steps to end the violence.
The US President George W Bush is expected to urge Israel to withdraw from Palestinian areas later today, the White House said.
White House spokesman Mr Ari Fleischer told reporters that Mr Bush was expected to deliver the message when he joins a meeting between Israeli Foreign Minister Mr Shimon Peres and US national security adviser Ms Condoleezza Rice.
Saying Mr Bush would express his condolences for the killing of far-right Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi last week, Mr Fleischer added: "He will also urge Israel to withdraw from Palestinian areas.
In a strong statement yesterday, US State Department spokesman Mr Philip Reeker said: "Israeli defense forces should be withdrawn immediately from all Palestinian-controlled areas and no further such incursions should be made".
He also condemned "Israeli defense force actions that have killed numerous Palestinian civilians over the weekend".
But Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon said his forces will stay put until Palestinian leader Mr Yasser Arafat delivers the killers of tourism minister Rehavam Zeevi.
Israeli minister without portfolio Mr Danny Naveh denied there was any US pressure on Israel to withdraw its tanks and troops from six towns in the West Bank. "There are simply differences of opinion," he said.
Transport Minister Mr Ephraim Sneh admitted there had been "slight pressure" from Israel's main backer but said: "If the Americans and Europeans had put enough pressure on Arafat, then maybe our offensive would not have been needed".
AFP &