Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon put a positive spin tonight on his lightning visit to Europe, saying criticism over his tough approach to the Palestinians was less important than explaining Israel's position to the world.
"It's natural that we didn't agree on everything but the main issue was to get the Israeli position understood, and I think I put it forward very clearly," Mr Sharon said after returning from talks in Germany and France.
Mr Sharon got less than a sympathetic ear from German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac, particularly over his refusal to freeze settlement building as outlined under the Mitchell peace plan.
"Those who think Europe is a lost cause for Israel are wrong," said Mr Sharon, who also met with French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin before heading home.
In Tel Aviv tonight, a meeting between Israeli and Palestinian security officials ended with both sides giving diverging assessments of its results.
The Israeli delegation said the ceasefire had not been respected by the Palestinians and that it was therefore impossible to start the countdown for the next political steps towards ending the violence included in the Mitchell report.
Both parties decided to hold another meeting in a week and create a coordination body to maintain the ceasefire in the field, Israeli security sources said, adding however that this body would only be operational after a successful one-week period of calm.
The shooting incident came during a day full of sporadic clashes between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip which left around 20 other people wounded.
More than 20 people have been killed since the would-be truce came into effect, and the ongoing violence has sparked concern that the non-stop bloodshed could plunge the region into a wider conflict.
AFP