Israel and the Palestinians sparred over terms for resuming peace talks today ahead of the first meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon and US President Bush since both came to power.
Tensions also looked likely to rise after Jerusalem authorities gave initial approval for almost 3,000 more homes to be built at a Jewish settlement on the city's outskirts which has long been a source of friction between the two sides.
Mr Sharon, who was expected to face pressure from Mr Bush at the Washington talks to relax a crackdown imposed on the Palestinans over nearly six months of clashes, said on the first full day of his US visit he wanted peace talks to resume.
"I believe that Israel can reach an agreement with the Palestinians and I will make every effort to reach such an agreement", Mr Sharon told the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) last night.
But Mr Sharon wants peace talks only if violence ends and says he will disregard peace proposals made by former Prime Minister Mr Ehud Barak who is said to have gone further to reach peace than any other Israel leader.
The Palestinians reiterated today that offers made by the previous government must remain the basis for any peace talks and again called for an international protection force.
Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said: "I say yes, there is a way out, which can be achieved only by the arrival of international forces to protect the Palestinian people and . . . a return to negotiations from where they left off."
A US-appointed commission led by former Senator George Mitchell was due to arrive in the region later today to review the causes of the violence.
Meetings with the two sides were due to start tomorrow.