Barak, however, cautioned that Israel always will defend itself against Palestinian attacks on its soldiers and citizens. He blamed Palestinians for instigating violence at a time when Israel wants to resolve the conflict.
"We must understand the fundamental strategic fact that only through a negotiated settlement can a durable peace be achieved that will enhance our security, guarantee our national interests and end this tragic conflict once and for all," he told an audience of more than 10,000 at the General Assembly of the United Jewish Communities.
Barak spoke a day after meeting with U.S. President Bill Clinton in Washington to review the status of a cease-fire agreement brokered last month in Egypt with Palestinian officials. Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat
held a similar meeting last week with Clinton.
Despite the agreement in Sharm el-Sheikh, Palestinians and Israelis have
continued to clash in the West Bank, Gaza and parts of Israel. Palestinians accuse Israeli forces of using excessive force. At the same time, Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians have increased.
In the latest violence, four Israelis and four Palestinians died Monday. The death toll from violence that began September 28 now stands at at least 227 people -- 192 Palestinians, 13 Israeli Arabs and 22 Israeli Jews, according to the Red Cross/Red Crescent.
Israeli authorities sealed off the borders of Palestinian-controlled towns Monday after the four Israelis died in several drive-by shootings.
Kidnapped Israeli soldiers remembered
Barak told conferees Monday night that Israel has several goals in its negotiations with the Palestinians. The goals include protecting Israel's security and other vital interests while creating a framework for cooperation with the Palestinians.
In remarks that drew many people to their feet, the prime minister also said Israel also will insist on seeing that Jerusalem, its capital, is "a capital united under our sovereignty and recognized by the entire world!"
The future of Jerusalem has proved one of the most contentious issues in talks between Barak and Arafat this year, with the Palestinian leader insisting his people must have their own capital in the ancient city.
During his speech, Barak also paid tribute to the families of three soldiers who were kidnapped last month by Hezbollah fighters in a skirmish along the Israeli-Lebanese border.
"In spite of massive efforts, we still don't know their whereabouts," he said. "As the minister of defense, I met with the families, and my heart broke."
Barak also paid tribute to Leah Rabin, widow of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated five years ago in Israel. Leah Rabin died Sunday after a long bout with cancer.
Barak called Leah Rabin "a fighter" who gave herself over to helping the peace process for which her husband had won international recognition.
Attack at a border crossing
Israeli officials said Monday's drive-by shootings might signal a shift in tactics on the part of Palestinian gunmen.
In one incident, a woman settler riding in a white Fiat died after gunmen in a car raked her vehicle with bullets. The gunmen sped away, later opening fire on a bus and killing two Israeli soldiers.
At a border crossing in Gaza, an Israeli truck driver died after being wounded in a drive-by shooting. Authorities said the gunmen fired on his truck and a car.
Also, two Palestinians were pronounced dead after being brought to a hospital in Gaza. Neither the Palestinians nor the Israelis reported any major clashes in Gaza, and the circumstances surrounding the deaths were unknown.
The nephew of the Palestinian head of preventative security died of his wounds. A fourth Palestinian death was confirmed later in the day.
Arafat accused the Israelis on Sunday of perpetuating ongoing violence, telling the Organization of the Islamic Conference summit in Qatar that the Palestinians would not give up their fight to evict Israeli troops from Palestinian-held territories.
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