The European Union and the United States have agreed to jointly urge Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to halt military action against the Palestinians, the Dutch Foreign Ministry said today.
"The EU and the United States are preparing a diplomatic initiative to Mr Sharon to urge an immediate ceasefire and to ask both parties to go back to the negotiating table," ministry spokesman Mr Hans Janssen said.
EU and US representatives in Tel Aviv could present the initiative to Mr Sharon as early as tomorrow morning, he added.
"There is continuous and intensive communication between the EU and the US representatives...we hope it will take place Sunday morning," Mr Janssen said.