Arafat: 'Exerting every effort' to end violence

Barak hopes cease-fire will be implemented

In this story: 'Pathway to peace' 6 more Palestinians die on Friday The diplomatic front RELATED STORIES, SITES

CNN Correspondent Jerrold Kessel contributed to this report.

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat said on Friday he was continuing to try to prevent Palestinians from fighting with Israelis in the West Bank and Gaza, as clashes in those areas resulted in more Palestinian deaths.

VIDEO CNN's Jerrold Kessel reports on the arguments for and against an international presence in the Mideast (November 17) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Cooking gas and gasoline have been cut off in Gaza since Thursday morning. CNN's Tom Mintier reports on the importance (November 17) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     ALSO Arafat tells Palestinians to end shooting One Briton killed, another hurt in Saudi explosion     MESSAGE BOARD Mideast peace

Well over 200 people, mostly Palestinians, have been killed in the Israeli-Palestinian fighting since September 28. Each side blames the other for the violence.

"We are exerting every effort to prevent any element from firing from (Palestinian controlled areas), Arafat said. "Orders have been issued regarding this by the Palestinian National Security Council."

'Pathway to peace'

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak responded to Arafat's comments by saying Israel remained committed to finding a new "pathway to peace" with the Palestinians.

"I hope it will be implemented," Barak said, referring to Arafat's order for Palestinians to stop clashing with Israelis.

Later, a statement released by Barak's office said words are not enough, deeds are what is necessary and Israel wants to see Palestinian shooting stop from within Palestinian-controlled areas and throughout the West Bank and Gaza.

6 more Palestinians die on Friday

Meanwhile, a 38-year-old Palestinian man was shot and killed Friday in the West Bank town of Qalqilya, the Red Crescent Society told CNN. Israel denies that its troops there were using live ammunition.

Palestinians said the man killed was a Jordanian of Palestinian origin living in the West Bank.

A 14-year-old Palestinian and a 19-year-old Palestinian were shot and killed Friday in a West Bank town near Hebron, the Red Crescent said. And another Palestinian was shot and killed near the Karni Crossing in Gaza, according to Red Crescent reports.

Two other Palestinians died Friday from wounds suffered Thursday in the West Bank town of Jericho. The Israeli Defense Forces said the two victims were Palestinian policemen, suspected by the IDF of being part of a group of people involved in a firefight Thursday night.

The diplomatic front

The U.N. Security Council on Friday was expected to broach the subject of a Palestinian-proposed, Israeli-opposed, international intervention force that would act as a buffer between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers.

"We asked for the protection of the Palestinian people and the application of the Geneva Fourth Convention on the Palestinian lands," Palestinian Council Speaker Ahmad Qorei told CNN.

Israel opposes the idea.

"The demand today is about an international intervention, not a foreign presence, and about a large force. That changes the picture," former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres told CNN. "I don't think they will be able to bring peace. Peace will result from direct talks."

U.S. pushes for diplomatic end to Mideast fighting
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November 11, 2000
After meeting with Clinton, Arafat's next stop is U.N.
November 9, 2000

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