President George W. Bush has called on Israel to halt incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas as he began shifting US policy to increase pressure on the Israelis.
Speaking in a White House Rose Garden speech that followed a barrage of international criticism at the US role, Mr Bush also said Syria and Iran must "stay out" of the Middle East conflict to avoid widening it.
And he called on the Palestinians to stop suicide bombings, saying "suicide bombing missions could well blow up the best and only hope for a Palestinian state."
Mr Bush repeated Israel's right to defend itself but added: "Yet, to lay the foundations of future peace, I ask Israel to halt incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas, and begin the withdrawal from those cities it has recently occupied."
Mr Bush also confirmed he is send Secretary of State Gen Colin Powell to the Middle East to try to end a surge in Israeli-Palestinian violence.
The US envoy to the region, Mr Anthony Zinni was today meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon to discuss the Israeli offensive. Mr Zinni was expected to ask Mr Sharon to allow him to meet Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat in his Ramallah headquarters.
Israeli forces have kept Mr Arafat under siege in Ramallah since the attacks began last Friday. They have taken seven major Palestinian cities in the West Bank as well as outlying towns and villages.
Mr Sharon has already said he will not allow an EU delegation made up of EU policy chief Mr Javier Solana and Spanish Foreign Minister Mr Josep Pique to speak with the Palestinian leader.
Mr Sharon defended his decision to keep Mr Arafat isolated after a late-night meeting of his security cabinet. "The decision is that (Arafat) will stay in the place where he is and he will be isolated".
Mr Sharon said peace talks with Palestinians would resume only "when there will be a full cessation of terror, hostilities and incitement."
Mr Bush's speech comes as gun battles and explosions rage around Manger Square in Bethlehem, as Israel presses ahead with its offensive against Palestinian fighters inside the Church of the Nativity.
It has been reported that more than 100 Palestinian police and militiamen are reported to be inside the church - believed by Christians to mark the birthplace of Christ.
Earlier today of Israeli tanks rolled into the divided West Bank city of Hebron. They said scores of tanks, armoured personnel carriers and military jeeps, backed by four helicopter gunships, had thrust into the city from the south, meeting only scattered resistance.
Israel's military offensive came under further criticism today with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) expressing concern over attacks on foreign journalists by the Israeli army, calling for clarification by the Israeli government.
OSCE press freedom representative Mr Freimut Duve has written to Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres complaining the issue, according to a statement by the Vienna-based security body listing recent attacks against the press.
AFP and