The White House urgedIsrael tonight to work with the Palestinian Authority tocrack down on terrorism as a new wave of violence threatenedthe US-backed peace plan.
"Israel has a right to defend herself but Israel needs totake into account the effect that actions they take have on thepeace process," White House spokesman Mr Scott McClellan toldreporters accompanying President George W. Bush on a trip tothe Pacific Northwest.
"It's important for both parties to get back talking to oneanother. It's important for the parties to work together toresolve these matters," Mr McClellan said after Israel killed atop Hamas political leader in a missile strike two days after asuicide bombing in Jerusalem.
The White House had previously appeared to put the onus onthe Palestinians to crack down on Islamic militants, whilesaying little to discourage Israel from military retaliationfor Tuesday's bombing, which killed 20 people and shattered adelicate truce.
Islamic militant groups formally called off the rocky7-week-old cease-fire today after Israeli missiles killedAbu Shanab, a senior figure in Hamas's political wing.
Mr McClellan reiterated the White House's oft-repeated callfor the main goal of both sides to be to dismantle the"terrorist infrastructure."
The White House statement came as Secretary of State Mr ColinPowell warned that abandoning a US peace plan would leadIsrael and the Palestinians over the edge of a cliff.
The so-called road map plan calls for a Palestinian state by2005.